OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN STEEL COMPANY - THE SYSTEMS GROUP

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(3)(vii): Ladders were used as a brace, skid, guy or gin pole, gangway, or for other uses than that for which they were intended, unless specifically recommended for use by the manufacturer:    On or about July 8, and at times prior thereto, employees manufacturing a steel mixing tank, were exposed to the hazard of falling approximately 8 1/2 feet to the concrete floor, while using an extension ladder as a brace for a step ladder and the step ladder as a brace for the extension ladder, to climb into and out of the tank.

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Abate by

Oct 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue;       On or about July 7, 2014, in the Roll Shop of the American Steel Company facility in El Dorado, Arkansas, employees manufacturing a steel mixing tank, entered the tank under the employers confined space permit system to perform welding and grinding operations. The employer had developed procedures for performing non-entry rescues but did not enforce them. As a result, the employees entered the permit space without harnesses, wristlets, or retrieval lines. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazard of  being caught in the tank in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Abate by

Oct 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(13): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment:    On or about July 7, 2014, at the east end of the Roll Shop of the American Steel Company's facility in El Dorado, Arkansas, employees manufacturing a mixing tank, entered the tank under a confined space permit, that did not identify the rescue equipment needed to effect an emergency extraction from the permit space. These conditions exposed the employees to the hazard of being caught in the confined space in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Abate by

Oct 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3)(i): Each authorized entrant did not use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant's back near shoulder level, or above the entrant's head:  On or about July7, 2014 at the east end of the Roll Shop at the American Steel Company's facility in El Dorado, Arkansas, employees who were manufacturing a steel mixing tank, entered the permit required confined space without any type of retrieval system, exposing the employees to the hazards of being caught in the confined space, in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Abate by

Nov 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    On or about June 20, 2014, and at times prior thereto, employees operating the Whitney hydraulic punch press, Model 191-009, in the Structures Shop, were exposed to the hazard of being caught in the unguarded point of operation, that was more than 1/4 inch wide.

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    On or about July 8, 2014, and at time prior thereto, employees operating the angle iron shear, at the south east corner of the Structures Shop, were exposed to the hazard of being caught in the unguarded chain conveyor sprockets in the following instances:  a)      The west end of the northernmost chain  b)      The west end of the second chain from the north end  c)       The west end of the middle chain  d)      The west end of the chain second from the south end  e)      The west end of the southernmost chain

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(b)(4)(iv): Terminals for welding leads were not protected from accidental contact by personnel or metal objects:    On or about July 8, 2014, and at times prior thereto, employees who required to operate arc welding machines, were exposed to the hazard of contacting energized bare conductors, while adjusting, turning on, and turning off the machines, in the following instances:    a) The Lincoln Ideal Arc welding machine Model TM-300/500, designated number E2D along the north wall of the Structures Shop  b) The Lincoln Powersave 500 arc welder serial number U1140200985 in the Roll Shop  c) The Lincoln DC-650 Pro welding machine designated E3X in the Roll Shop  d) The Lincoln CV-400 welding machine serial number 11354 U1070904644 in the Roll Shop  e) The Lincoln DC-400 welding machine designated E3T in the Roll Shop

Issued

Sep 23, 2014

Abate by

Nov 13, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(5)(i): The entry supervisor did not terminate entry and cancel the entry permit when the entry operations covered by the entry permit had been completed:  On or about July 7, and at times prior thereto, employees manufacturing a steel mixing tank, were working inside the tank under a confined space permit. The entry supervisor signed the permit authorizing the entry but did not cancel the permit at the end of entry operations exposing employees to the hazard of being caught in the confined space in the event they re-entered the space.