OSHA Inspection: KEYSTONE CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $2,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.NOTE:  A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign:     On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace in the Rod Mill to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not ensure danger signs or another equally effective method to inform employees of the hazards were posted at permit-required spaces to effectively communicate the existence, location, and danger posed by the spaces.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $4,250

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, as required by the standard:     On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace in the Rod Mill to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary, which include the following:     (i) Specifying acceptable entry conditions;  (ii) Providing each authorized entrant or that employee's authorized representative with the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing of permit spaces;  (iii) Isolating the permit space;  (iv) Purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards;  (v) Providing pedestrian, vehicle, or other barriers as necessary to protect entrants from external hazards; and  (vi) Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Test or monitor the permit space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during the course of entry operations:     On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace in the Rod Mill to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not test or monitor the permit space as necessary to ensure acceptable entry conditions were being maintained during entry operations.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 21, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6): Provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry is authorized for the duration of entry operations:      NOTE:  Attendants may be assigned to monitor more than one permit space provided the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored.  Likewise, attendants may be stationed at any location outside the permit space to be monitored as long as the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored:     On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace in the Rod Mill to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry was authorized.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry is authorized, the employer shall document the completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) of this section by preparing an entry permit: NOTE: Appendix D to section 1910.146 presents examples of permits whose elements are considered to comply with the requirements of this section:     On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace in the Rod Mill to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not document the completion of measures by preparing an entry permit.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer shall provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by this section acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this section:    On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not conduct adequate training when employees were entering a permit required confined space.

Issued

Oct 11, 2011

Abate by

Oct 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(ii): An employer who designates rescue and emergency services shall evaluate a prospective rescue service's ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified:    On August 7, 2011, employees were exposed to atmospheric and physical hazards while entering the reheat furnace to perform cleaning activities and the employer did not evaluate the rescue service's proficiency in conducting rescue-related tasks and their ability to use the equipment and function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space.