OSHA Inspection: WILKES STEEL, INC.

Issued

Mar 19, 2004

Abate by

May 5, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of North Carolina:  The employer did not
furnish to each of his employees conditions of 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)1st and 2nd degree burns from fuel released from a LP
pressurized fuel tank (Recreational Vehicle attachment
LP gas tank, ser#B31554),located at 117 Maple Street,
North Wilksboro, NC, the employer did not ensure that
employees at the shaker conveyor followed appropriate
procedures to ensure that pressurized LP fuel tanks,
were not processed by a Baling Shear, (Harris model-
BSH-550 LH, ser#580, metal cutting machine) which
exposed employees working in and/or around the Baling
Shear Cutting Area to burns related to released and
ignited LP gas from this fuel tank.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method(s) to correct
this hazard would include ensuring that employees follow
appropriate procedures, such as outlined by the Institute of
Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), for "Identifying
Potentially Hazardous Materials" which include inspecting
for and not processing LP pressurized tanks that did not
have their valves removed, holes drilled in the walls, and
fuel removed.