OSHA Inspection: NUCOR

Issued

Sep 6, 2016

Abate by

Jan 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,471 · Current $10,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):     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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to burn hazards created by water leaking from a closed, pressurized furnace water panel being exposed to molten metal when the furnace roof was lifted.    Nucor Steel Nebraska ("NSNE") located at 2911 East Nucor Road, Norfolk, operates a DC Electric Arc Furnace ("EAF") originally designed and installed by MAN GHH. On May 12, 2016, a closed, pressurized "side wall" panel in B shell failed causing water to leak into the furnace on the molten bath during the refining process. The panel that failed was the F8 location above the door.     In an effort to help relieve furnace pressure, to prevent a potential explosive event, and to assist in identifying and isolating the EAF F8 panel leak, the employer raised the furnace roof. When the roof was lifted, water from the leaking panel interacted with molten metal of the heat to cause an expansion event. A Second Helper  EAF employee performing troubleshooting  activities was subsequently injured.     Feasible means of abatement include:    A NSNE Job Safety Analysis that reflects if there is a known water leak in the MAN GHH B-Shell closed, pressurized side wall F8 panel, that the roof should be lifted until employees performing the troubleshooting  activities have been moved from the immediate area of the furnace or other precautionary measures have been taken to protect employees from potential burn hazards.

Issued

Sep 6, 2016

Abate by

Jan 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,471 · Current $6,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2):     Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could not walk directly into the opening:    The employer is failing to ensure that employees are not exposed to a fall hazard  greater than 4 feet when accessing the deck on the backside of the electric arc furnace (EAF) in that the passage through the railing was not provided with a swing gate or so offset that a person could not walk directly into the opening.