OSHA Inspection: MCWANE INC. DBA ATLANTIC STATES CAST IRON PIPE CO.

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 recogn
ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by cr
ane loads due to cracked and broken windows in the cab of hot metal cranes which
obstructed the vision of operators: a- Melting and Casting Departments - On or
about 02/03/04, an expanding steam vapor/molten metal explosion damaged and crac
ked the cab glass in hot metal crane # 1. The crane continued to be used with br
oken glass until 02/13/04 when the front glass panel fell out of the cab and ont
o the casting floor. During such work activities which included moving loads and
transferring molten steel from ladles, the operator's vision was obstructed by
the cracked glass.
Feasible and acceptable methods among others to correct the hazard are to: 1- En
sure crane cab windows provide adequate vision for operators and are maintained
in accordance with ANSI B30.2.0-1967 Section 2-1.4.2 which states that hot metal
handling crane cabs exposed to excessive heat shall be provided with a cab encl
osed as for outdoor protection. The windows shall have a metal sash and heat res
isting safety type glass or equivalent; 2- Establish an effective maintenance pr
ogram to include inspections by operators and/or maintenance personnel, document
ation of deficiencies and correction in a timely manner; 3- Train operators, mai
ntenance personnel and managers to recognize hazards associated with overhead cr
anes and necessary measures to address such hazards.

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 recogn
ized
hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to e
mployees in that employees were exposed to the hazards of steam vapor and molten
metal released during a rapidly expanding steam vapor/molten metal explosion: a
- Casting Department - On or about 02/03/04, the quad ladle on casting machine #
2 was struck by an out of position trough as the machine progressed up hill. In
turn, the ladle dipped and released a large amount of molten iron into the machi
ne bed which contained accumulated water. The resulting explosion liberated stea
m and molten iron into the work area. b- Casting Department - On or about 02/03/
04, cab glass in hot metal crane #1 was cracked and damaged by flying molten met
al liberated by the above noted explosion. The cab's front window was compromise
d with cracks and later fell out during crane
operation. Crane operators were not provided adequate protection from heat and f
lying molten metal afforded by intact and properly secured cab glass. Feasible a
nd acceptable methods among others to correct the hazard are to: 1- Repair all c
asting machine leaks to include those associated with cooling water and water so
luble hydraulics; 2- Ensure that the casting bed is as free as practicable of ac
cumulations of standing water by effectively maintaining the drainage system to
include pumps and water levels under the #4 casting line; 3- Prevent the pooling
of water near/under areas where molten metal is poured and/or transferred to in
clude but not limited to quad ladles so as to prevent an explosion hazard; 4- De
velop and implement a long term solution to the practice of isolating casting
lines 1-3 from the # 4 basement; 5- Ensure crane cab windows are maintained in a
ccordance with ANSI B30.2.0- 1967 Section 2-1.4.2 which states that hot metal ha
ndling crane cabs exposed to excessive heat shall be provided with a cab enclose
d for outdoor protection. The windows shall have a metal sash and heat resisting
safety type glass or equivalent.

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Aug 4, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Aug 4, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Aug 4, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Dec 2, 2004

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $500

Hazardous substances 9010

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Dec 2, 2004

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

Issued

Jul 30, 2004

Abate by

Sep 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $200

Hazardous substances 1591