OSHA Inspection: WARREN STEEL HOLDINGS, LLC

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $2,640 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): Covers and/or guardrails were not provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.    On or about April 10, 2014, the employer failed to have guardrails in good condition around the open pit in the outdoor walkway.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative controls were not utilized:    On or about September 3, 2014, at least one employee working as the Second Helper for the EAF who operated the crane was exposed to noise at an 8 hour time-weighted average of 95 dBA (equivalent dose of 200%) during the 218 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 262 minutes not sampled.  This exposure exceeded the permissible exposure limit which is an 8 hour time-weighted-average of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100%.                  Abatement Steps:        Effective hearing protection shall be provided and used by all exposed employees as an interim protection measure and when administrative or engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of table G-16.  In addition, an effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) thru (n) shall be maintained.  Abatement must be completed by ________.     Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and /or administrative measures to control employee exposure to noise as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation.   a)   Evaluation of engineering control options.   b)   Selection of optimum control method and completion of design.   c)   Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures.   d)   Testing and acceptance or modifications/redesign of controls.             All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Abatement must be completed by _____________.            Abatement should have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Abatement must be completed by __________.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:     a.  On or about September 3, 2014, at least one employee working as the Second Helper for the EAF was exposed to noise at an 8 hour time- weighted average of 87.94 dBA (equivalent dose of 75.2%) during the 232 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 248 minutes not sampled.  This exposure exceeded the action level which is an 8 hour time-weighted-average of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50%.  The employee was not provided with an audiometric test annually.          b.  On or about September 3, 2014, at least one employee working as the Second Helper for the EAF who operated the crane was exposed to noise at an 8 hour time-weighted average of 95.3 dBA (equivalent dose of 209%) during the 218 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 262 minutes not sampled.  This exposure exceeded the action level which is an 8 hour time-weighted-average of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50%.  The employee was not trained in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).  The employee was not provided with an audiometric test annually.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):    a.  On or about September 3, 2014, at least one employee working as the Second Helper for the EAF was exposed to noise at an 8 hour time- weighted average of 87.94 dBA (equivalent dose of 75.2%) during the 232 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 248 minutes not sampled.  This exposure exceeded the action level which is an 8 hour time-weighted-average of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50%.  The employee was not trained in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).         b.  On or about September 3, 2014, at least one employee working as the Second Helper for the EAF who operated the crane was exposed to noise at an 8 hour time-weighted average of 95.3 dBA (equivalent dose of 209%) during the 218 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 262 minutes not sampled.  This exposure exceeded the action level which is an 8 hour time-weighted-average of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50%.  The employee was not trained in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $16,500 · Current $9,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:    On or about April 10, 2014, the employer failed to guard the floor hole that measured approximately, 20 feet long, 6 inches wide, and 31.5 inches deep (at its deepest part), located by the baghouse.    Warren Steel Holdings LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315110528, citation number 1, item number 1(b), and was affirmed as a final order on April 7, 2011, with respect to the workplace located at 4000 Mahoning Ave., NW, Warren, Ohio 44483.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  On or about April 10, 2014, the employer failed to provide the information in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134 to employees that voluntarily wear dust masks.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(3): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify the date and the authorized duration of the entry permit:  On or about May 23, 2014, the employer failed to have the time issued and the time expires documented on the Confined Space Entry Permit for the Grizzly Pit that was issued on April 10, 2014.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(5): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify the personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants:  On or about May 23, 2014, the employer failed to have the names of the attendants documented on the Confined Space Entry Permit for the Grizzly Pit that was issued on April 10, 2014.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Nov 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:      On or about May 23, 2014, the employer failed to conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for their equipment, including but not limited to the EAF.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Dec 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2):      The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:    On or about May 23, 2014, portable fire extinguishers were available for employees to use, but initial and annual training were not provided.      Note the employer may exercise one of the following options:    1. Provide portable fire extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1), meet the distribution requirements per 29 CFR 1910.157(d) (75 to the nearest extinguisher for Class A fires and 50 to the nearest unit for Class B fires), and provide training and education for all employees in the use of such equipment and the hazards associated with incipient stage fire fighting as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(g).  The other sections of 29 CFR also apply.    2. Provide extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1), designate certain employees to be the only employees authorized to use such equipment and require all other employees to immediately evacuate upon the sound of the fire alarm, establish this in writing in an emergency action plan as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and train/educate designated employees per 1910.157(g).  Utilizing this option exempts the employer from distribution requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157(d).    3. Establish a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal.  This policy shall include an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan as specified in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and 29 CFR 1910.39(a).  Utilizing this option exempts the employer from the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157 to include the need for providing portable fire equipment unless a specific standard requires that a portable fire extinguisher be provided (such as those requirements in 29 CFR 1910.106/107 related to the use/storage of flammable/combustible liquids).  If extinguishers are provided, but not intended for employee use, 29 CFR 1910.157(e) and (f) are still applicable (inspection, maintenance, and testing of equipment).

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Dec 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:    On or about May 23, 2014, the employer failed to provide updated training on the new Safety Data Sheet format and the new label elements to employees that handle chemicals including but not limited to sulfuric acid and lime.