OSHA Inspection: TIMKEN LATROBE STEEL

Issued

Mar 6, 2003

Abate by

Mar 24, 2003

Penalty

Initial $7,000

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 severe burns and explosion hazards:
(a) Melt Shop area "A" furnace: On or about 11/05/02 there were no
drawings, operating
or maintenance instructions, and spare parts listings for the furnace
after it was modified
from a 20 to 25 ton capacity. The furnace was overloaded by 1,751 pounds.
(b) Melt Shop area "A" furnace: On or about 11/05/02 4 employees were
positioned in the hazardous zone when tapping a heat, after a "Burn Out"
had
occurred.  Water was observed flowing inside the furnace and "warning"
alarms
were registering on the computer screen in the control booth. The employer
did
not establish written startup/shutdown procedures as prescribed by the
manufacturer's recommendations before placing the equipment in operation.
(c) Melt Shop area "A" & "B" Lectromelt electric arc furnaces: On or about
11/05/02 the furnaces were being operated and the written established
inspection
and maintenance procedures were not being followed or utilized.
Among other feasible and acceptable means to abate these hazards is to
develop
the procedures outlined in the American National Standards Institute,
Z241.2,
"Safety Requirements for Melting and Pouring of Metals in the Metalcasting
Industry dated March 31, 2000.