OSHA Inspection: CHESTERFIELD STEEL SERVICE

Issued

Sep 5, 2001

Abate by

Sep 18, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 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:
On and prior to July 18, 2001, employees were exposed to serious injuries
while handling coils
of steel.  Employee/laborers involved with the rebanding of steel coils
were doing so
inappropriately at their own discretion, by not following the established
written procedure which
dictates in detail how banding of coils will be accomplished.
During the inspection it was evident that employees have not been
adequately trained to reband
coils of steel properly.  There is a serious propensity for injury to
occur, since the current
rebanding methods are improvisational.  It was established that the
employer is not enforcing
strict adherence to the written banding procedures in place.
Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to
minimize the
probability of injury during the handling of steel coils.
1.  Develop safe banding procedures which list the sequence of operations,
particularly during
the rebanding operations following the filling of "cut to order" tasks.
2.  Train all effected employees on the requirements set forth in the
procedures and related
safety precautions including the importance of properly positioning one's
self in relation to the
coil, particularly when initially lifting a coil off the floor which
subjects the coil's bands to more
force than when resting on the floor.
3.  Enforce employee use of the procedures.
4.  Follow ANSI B11.18-1992 recommendations for proper banding which are
as included
but not limited to the following.
a. Banding material should be a minimum of 1 and 1/4 inch wide by .031
inches thick
and heat treated.
b. All banding seals should be double crimped.
c. Corner protectors should be used on all bands placed through the eye of
the coil.
They should be sufficient enough to protect against rupture of the band
due to the sharp edges
of the material or too acute of a bend.
d. A minimum of 3 bands (equally spaced) should be placed through the eye
of the coil.
e. Bands should be placed on the circumference of the coil as appropriate
for the size,
gage and grade of metal.
5.  Develop and implement safe placement procedures for banded coils in
order to prevent
damage and/or corrosion to the banding clips.
6.  Develop and implement safe procedures for banded coils in order to
prevent
undue stresses
on the bands of the bottom coils.

Issued

Sep 5, 2001

Abate by

Sep 18, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 5, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 5, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001