OSHA Inspection: FIRST MISS STEEL INC.

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Sep 20, 1994

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Oct 21, 1994

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $800 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Nov 15, 1994

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Sep 26, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Sep 21, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Sep 21, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Sep 16, 1994

Abate by

Oct 4, 1994

Penalty

Initial $56,000 · Current $28,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5 (a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish
employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized
hazards that were causing
or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were exposed
to severe burns due to furnace explosions and molten metal runouts:
(a) Melting Department, # 1 Lectromelt Furnace; There were no established
procedures developed
and/or implemented for the melting, pouring, inspection, and preventative
maintenance for the
operation of # 1 Lectromelt Furnace.
(1)  The furnace was being operated with known "hot spots" resulting in
furnace shell       breakthrough.
(2)  Safe Job Procedures were not developed to address "hot spots" and the
necessary steps/precautions to be taken to prevent furnace blowout.
(3)  An established campaign life had not been developed and strictly
adhered to in order to      properly maintain and reline the furnace.
Only patching was done in order to prolong furnace
operation thereby increasing production.
(4)  The furnace transformer and taphole have been increased in size
(modified) without the manufacturer's approval and/or recommendation.
Furthermore, operating and maintenance instructions have not been
furnished to include engineering drawings and data.
(5)  The furnace tilt control panel is not positioned so that the operator
has a direct line of site
when tapping out the furnace.  The control room door blocks the operator's
view when in the
closed position.
(6)  Furnace operators were not properly trained so that hazards would be
minimized.  Operators are tapping out the furnace with known hot spots,
charging the furnace
beyond it's capacity, charging scrap that has not been analyzed, charging
mismarked
slugs, and operating the furnace with known water leaks.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to
develop an operation and preventative maintenance program in accordance
with the furnace
manufacturer's manuals to insure the correct and proper functioning of all
furnace operations.
Additionally, written    safe job procedures shall be established to
address all aspects of furnace
operations, particularly the means for emergency cooling of hot spots on
the furnace and furnace
shutdown for relining.