OSHA Inspection: LINDBERG HEAT TREATING COMPANY

Issued

Aug 26, 1993

Abate by

Nov 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazard of severe burns and/or contusion:
ON OR ABOUT MAY 16, 1993, EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN THE START-UP PROCESS
OF THE SUPER ALLCASE FURNACE AND WORKING IN AND AROUND HEAT
TREATING DEPARTMENT WERE EXPOSED TO SEVERE BURNS AND/OR CONTUSION
DUE TO A FURNACE EXPLOSION.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THE HAZARD IS TO:
1.   SCHEDULE AND CONDUCT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON A REGULAR
BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT AIR LEAKS INTO VARIOUS AREAS OF THE
FURNACE ARE AS MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE.  THE ITEMS, LISTED BELOW (BUT
NOT LIMITED TO), SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT DURING THE PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE SERVICE:
A.   THE VESTIBULE DOOR.
B.   THE SLOT DOOR.
C.   ELEVATOR STUFFING BOXES.
D.   PACKING GLANDS.
E.   OTHER RELEVANT ITEMS.
2.   INSTALL SAFETY DEVICES, SUCH AS (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) A LOW OIL
LEVEL INDICATOR DEVICE TO SOUND AN ALARM AND ALERT
OPERATOR(S) SHOULD THE OIL LEVEL OF THE QUENCH TANK BE BELOW
THE PREDETERMINED LEVEL FROM THE HEARTH LINE.  PLUG UP,
ELIMINATE OR REPLACE THE BALL/NEEDLE VALVE(S) ON THE
ATMOSPHERE ENDOTHERMIC HEADER WITH LOCKABLE VALVE(S).
INTERLOCK THE INNER AND OUTER DOORS SO THAT THE ELEVATOR IS AT
THE PROPER POSITION BEFORE THE QUENCHING AN/OR THE GASSING
UP/DEGASSING CYCLE(S).
3.   READJUST OR MEASURE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OR SYSTEM(S):
A.   THE FLAPPER ASSEMBLY ON THE VESTIBULE EFFLUENT.
B.   THE EXHAUST VENT LINE(S).
C.   THE NITROGEN PURGING SYSTEM.
4.   COMPLY WITH THE NFPA 86C, 1991 STANDARD FOR "INDUSTRIAL
FURNACES USING A SPECIAL PROCESSING ATMOSPHERE", OR AN
EQUIVALENT FOR THE DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE
FURNACE.
5.   HAVE A QUALIFIED ENGINEER DO AN ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY STUDY
TO DETERMINE THAT THE FURNACE AND ALL MODIFICATIONS DONE TO
IT INCLUDING THE TOP COAL CHAMBER MODIFICATIONS ARE PROPER
AND SAFE.