OSHA Inspection: JOSEPH T. RYERSON & SON, INC.

Issued

Sep 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,557 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.333(a)(1):"Deenergized parts." Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.  On or about July 13, 2021, the employer did not ensure an employee denergized the live 480volt electrical parts of the Stretcher Leveler Machine's hydraulic unit control panel #5, before testing and working on the electrical parts inside the panel.

Issued

Sep 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,873 · Current $7,724 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(c)(2):Visual inspection. Test instruments and equipment and all associated test leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors shall be visually inspected for external defects and damage before the equipment is used. If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and no employee may use it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made.  On or about July 13, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees visually inspected and/or removed from service damaged electrical test equipment that might expose an employee to an injury.  A maintenance technician utilized a UEI, G2 Phoenix, Model DL379 electrical multimeter tester with a damaged and spliced testing lead to test the voltage on the 480volt electrical components of a Stretcher Leveler Machine.

Issued

Sep 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,192 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.335(a)(1)(i):Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards shall be provided with, and shall use, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed.  Note: Personal protective equipment requirements are contained in subpart I of this part.  On or about July 13, 2021, the employer did not provide electrical protective equipment for employees working in areas with 480volt energized parts where there was the potential for electrocution, electric shock, and/or arc flash hazards.  Employees were not provided with nonconductive head and face protection and/or rubber insulating gloves.