OSHA Inspection: SLOSS INDUSTRIES CORPORATION-COKE PLANT

Issued

Oct 11, 2001

Abate by

Oct 30, 2001

Penalty

Initial $4,000

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:
a. On or about March 4, 2001 an explosion occured in the #5 cupola used
for the manufacturing
of slagwool due to water contacting molten metal. On or before April 11,
2001 Sloss Slag Wool
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) did not reflect an update for a known
working physical
hazard associated with steel plates and water leaking inside the cupola
shell.
Hazard: Potential safety hazard due to water leaking inside the cupola
shell or brick opening
resulting in an explosion.
Feasible means of Abatement include, but are not limited to the following:
1. A magnet could be suspended above the raw material feed belt to capture
iron or steel matter
and prevent such foreign material from entering the cupola.
2. Use refractory mud products designed to insure that all molten material
runs out of the cupola
without accumulating inside it.
3. Any cupola found with water accumulating/leaking inside the shell,
shall be shut down
immediately.