OSHA Inspection: SLOSS INDUSTRIES CORPORATION-COKE PLANT

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 16, 2003

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 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 falls from moving rail cars:
(a)On or about 03/05/2003 - Locations at the Coal Dump area and associated
track -
Rail Cars - Employees were exposed to falls from rail cars when required to
mount and dismount moving rail cars that had damaged safety appliances: Car
#5066 damaged stirrups; Car #5070 damaged ladder handholds and sill steps;
Car
#5051 damaged ladder handholds and sill steps; Car #5103 damaged ladder
handholds and sill steps; Car #5048 damaged ladder handholds and sill
steps; Car
#5055 damaged sill step; Cars #5069 and 5066 damaged brake platforms.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement include,
enforcement of the inspection, tagging out, and repair of rail cars with
defective/damaged ladder handholds, step sills and stirrups prior to their
use.
Prohibit employees from mounting rail cars with defective ladder
handholds, step
sills and stirrups.
(b)On or about 03/05/2003 - Car Dropping operations at the Coal Dump -
Employees were exposed to falls from rail cars when retarders did not work
properly resulting in out-of-control rail cars running into stationary
rail cars.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement include,
ensuring that areas around the retarders are kept free of oil and grease;
establishing a periodic maintenance and inspection program for the car
retarders
to ensure their operational capability is continually maintained.

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 16, 2003

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,500 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 being struck-by and ran over from moving rail cars:
(a)On or about 03/05/2003 - Car Dropping operations at the Coal Dump -
Employees were exposed to being struck-by and run over by moving rail cars
in
that employees were required to ride uncontrolled rail cars, employees were
required to leap onto and off of runaway rail cars, employees were
required to
cross over from one side to the other side of rail cars while cars were in
motion,
employees were required to ride on front of leading rail cars.  Employees
were
performing the hazardous acts in order to set hand brakes.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement include,
establishing a periodic maintenance and inspection program for the car
retarders
to ensure their operational capability is continually maintained;
prohibiting
employees from riding rail cars to and from the Coal Dump; and utilizing
locomotive equipment to move rail cars to and from the Coal Dump.

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 16, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,000 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 caught between and crushed by rail cars:
(a)On or about 03/05/2003 - Coal Dump - Employees were exposed to caught
between and crushing hazards, where, they position themselves between
unsecured rail cars and attempt to uncouple them by hand when cut levers
are
missing or in disrepair and the cars are subject to movement.
Among others, a feasible and acceptable means of abatement would be for the
employer to ensure that cut levers are repaired and prohibit employees from
attempting to uncouple rail cars by positioning themselves between the
cars.

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 9, 2003

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 9, 2003

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 9, 2003

Penalty

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

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 16, 2003

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $17,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 2003

Abate by

Sep 9, 2003

Penalty

Initial $50,000 · Current $32,000 Reduced