OSHA Inspection: THE MARION STEEL COMPANY

Issued

Feb 4, 2005

Abate by

Mar 10, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · 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 likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that on November 18,
2004, three melt shop employees received first and second degree
burns resulting in hospitalization after the electric arc furnace
which they were working near erupted.
a)The Marion Steel Company located in Marion, Ohio: On or about
November 18, 2004, the company did not ensure the scrap metal
being placed into the 60 ton EMCI 15.3 electric arc furnace
located in melt department was free of water or moisture.
b)The Marion Steel Company located in Marion, Ohio:  On or about
November 18, 2004, approximately 300 pounds of wet and/or damp
material known as roof dirt was shoveled into the 60 ton EMCI
15.3 electric arc furnace located in the melt department when
the furnace was shut down for relining operations. Subsequent
charges were placed on top of this material and melted as the
material laid in the bottom of the furnace.
c)The Marion Steel Company located in Marion, Ohio:  On or about
November 18, 2004, the company did not have procedures in
place which would prevent the introduction of scrap metal such
as but not limited to compressed gas cylinders and shock
absorbers from entering the 60 ton EMCI 15.3 electric arc
furnace during charging operations.
Among other means, feasible and acceptable means of abatement
include: 1) Develop and implement written work procedures to ensure
charge materials are dry. 2) Store all alloy charge materials in a
covered area to prevent the collection of moisture in the alloy
charge materials. 3) Protect the workers from molten metal splash
by minimizing employee exposures during furnace charging and
melting operations. 4) Implement written scrap inspection
procedures to minimize the introduction of gas cylinders and other
containers from the scrap material. 5) Eliminate the addition of
wet and/or damp roof dirt into the furnace hearth.
In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is
required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE
ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating
that abatement is complete must be included with your
certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited
to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment,
photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written
records.t,