OSHA Inspection: KOPPERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

May 2, 2005

Abate by

Jun 20, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

May 2, 2005

Abate by

May 6, 2005

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $70,000

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 recognized
hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to:
At the establishment located at 2201 Edmonds, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
employees
were exposed to being struck by moving railcars in the following instances:
(a)On or about November 11, 2004, an employee operating a Kawasaki 80 Z
wheel
loader was using the loader to push four loaded railcars, Nos. UP708969,
UP908894, ADN4003 and ADN4004.  The loader was not connected to the
railcars, therefore had no control over the braking or emergency stopping
of the
free rolling cars, exposing the employee working on the tracks to the
hazards of
being struck by the rail cars.
(b)Prior to November 11, 2004, employees operating wheel loaders routinely
pushed
empty and loaded railcars with the loaders.  The loaders were not
connected to
the railcars, therefore had no control over the braking or emergency
stopping of
the free rolling cars, exposing employees to being struck by the cars while
working on or near the track.
Among other feasible means of abatement, one acceptable method of
abatement is to use
a locomotive to move the rail-cars or a loader with a manufacturer
approved  coupler
attachment.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this
violation has been abated, within ten days after the abatement date.ment

Issued

May 2, 2005

Abate by

May 6, 2005

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:
At the establishment located at 2201 Edmonds, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
employees
were exposed to being struck by moving railcars in the following instances:
(a)On or about November 11, 2004, an employee operating a  Kawasaki 80 Z
wheel
loader was using the loader to push four loaded rail cars down the track.
The
wheels of the two idle cars on track just to the right of the intersection
were not
chocked nor was the hand brake set to prevent them from rolling when the
two
cars being pushed contacted the idle cars, exposing employees in the path
of
travel to the hazard of being struck by the cars.
(b)Prior to November 11, 2004, employees operating wheel loaders pushed
empty
and loaded railcars with the loaders and employees did not routinely chock
the
wheels of the idle railcars nor did they routinely set the hand brake on
the
cars
left idle, exposing employees in the path of travel to the hazard of being
struck
by the cars.
Among other feasible means of abatement, one acceptable method of
abatement is for the
operator, spotter or brakeman to chock the wheels or apply a hand brake
every time cars
come to a stop and are left idle.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentatin
that this
violation has been abated, within ten (10) days after the abatement date."

Issued

May 2, 2005

Abate by

May 6, 2005

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:
At the establishment located at 2201 Edmonds, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
employees
were exposed to being struck by moving railcars in the following instances:
(a)On or about November 11, 2004, an employee operating a  Kawasaki 80 Z
wheel
loader was using the loader to push four loaded rail cars.  While the
railcars were
being pushed, employees were not assigned as spotters at the lead end of
the cars
being pushed to ensure the track was clear and employees were not exposed
to
the hazards of being struck by the railcars.
(b)Prior to November 11, 2004, employees operating wheel loaders routinely
pushed
empty and loaded railcars without the benefit of a spotter assigned to
ensure the
track was clear and employees were not exposed to being struck by the
oncoming
railcars.
Among other feasible means of abatement, one acceptable method of
abatement
is to use
spotters at the lead end of the cars being pushed to clear the track and
alert employees
of the approaching cars.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this
violation has been abated, within ten (10) days after the abatement
date."ent

Issued

May 2, 2005

Abate by

Jun 20, 2005

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:
At the establishment located at 2201 Edmonds, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
the
corporate safety program was not vigorously enforced to provide compliance
with safety
and health provisions and standards.  Additionally, the employer did not
continually
instruct employees and management representatives on the recognition and
avoidance
of
unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to their work environment
in order to
control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury
and ensure that all
applicable rules and regulations were followed and enforced by in-house
supervisors.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to increase observations of employee and supervisor work
practices and correct
and discipline employees who do not follow safe work practices.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this
violation has been abated, within ten (10) days after the abatement
date."ent