OSHA Inspection: CHICAGO CARBON COMPANY

Issued

Sep 19, 1998

Abate by

Oct 7, 1998

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $13,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(b)(7)(iii): The means of selecting Off,"Inch," Single
Stroke, and
Continuous on mechanical power press(es) using part revolution clutches
was not capable of
supervision.
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:
a.  Drum B, Needle Coker Pit - On or about March 30, 1998, an employee
(front-end loader
operator) was exposed to the hazards of hot water and being struck and
buried by hot coke as
he removed coke from a plugged chute located beneath the open drum (bottom
lid removed)
that contained approximately 400 tons of hot coke and water.
Among other methoods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these
hazards are:
1.  Develop and implement a policy that prohibits the entry of employees
into the Needle
Coker pit, when the head of a drum has been removed, until the drum has
been visually
inspected and found to be free of coke.
2.  Develop and implement a written procedure for removing coke from chutes
3.  Train all employees  that will be involved in the removal of coke from
chutes.