OSHA Inspection: U. S. STEEL CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 10, 2006

Abate by

Oct 13, 2006

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 the employer
did not provide a method for ensuring safe boarding/deboarding of larry
cars and eliminating
blind spots thereby exposing employees to being struck by and/or run over
by larry cars:
(a) Mon Valley Works-Clairton Plant, B Battery, Coal Bunker, Larry Car #2:
On or about
September 15, 2006, an employee, who had deboarded the larry car, was
struck by the moving
car due to the inability of the larry car operator to see employees.  This
occurred due to a blind
spot that existed for the #2 Larry Car operator which extended
approximately 8 feet in front of
the northwest (down river, town side)  wheel truck of the larry car.  In
addition, this wheel
truck assembly was missing a rail sweep.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to
implement a safe
job procedure for larry car operator boarding/deboarding which ensures a
clear path of travel
for employees; verifies that operators are clear of the larry car's path
of travel; and verifies by
visual contact with the larry car operator that employees are in the clear
and not in any blind
spots prior to moving the equipment.