OSHA Inspection: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY

Issued

Oct 30, 1996

Abate by

Nov 12, 1996

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazard of being burned if a tundish ruptures due to a
lack of specific
procedures which must be followed to determine when damaged tundishes must
be removed
from service for overhaul and repair when cracks are observed in the shell
of the tundish.
In the tundish dump and tundish repair areas, there were no set procedures
in place for
determining when a tundish should be withdrawn from service for repair
and/or overhaul.
The supervisors responsible for this determination visually inspected the
shell of the
tundish and made a judgement as to whether the tundish should be removed
from service
for repair. There was no criteria as to length or depth of cracks for
removing the
tundishes from service.
A feasible and effective means of abatement may include but not be limited
to instituting
set procedures for the inspection of tundishes to determine whether they
should be
removed from service.

Issued

Oct 30, 1996

Abate by

Nov 3, 1996

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $25,000 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazards of molten metal break-out in the continuous
casting area when the
tundishes are returned to service after having been dropped to the ground
to remove skull. This
practice can further damage the tundish shell and refractory. In addition,
employees working in
the tundish dump area can be struck by flying debris when the tundish hits
the ground.
In the tundish dump area, employees are required to lift tundish ends to
approximately
a 45 degree angle using wire rope slings and a 75 ton radio controlled
crane. The tundish
end is hoisted approximately 10 to 12 feet into the air until the sling
slips off the trunions
of the tundish and then crashes to the ground below. This is done to break
solidified
metal or skull loose from the pouring spouts of the tundish which weighs
approximately
50 tons. When the tundish hits the ground, the shell and refractory of the
tundish can be
damaged exposing employees to molten metal break-out when the tundish is
placed back
in service. Additionally, employees working in the tundish dump area can
be struck by
flying debris when the tundish hits the ground.
A feasible and effective means of abatement may include but not be limited
to using
using hydraulic presses attached to the bottom of the tundish while the
tundish is on the
ground to press the skull from the spouts.

Issued

Oct 30, 1996

Abate by

Nov 3, 1996

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $70,000