OSHA Inspection: TIMKENSTEEL CORPORATION

Issued

Jan 12, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $145,027 · Current $145,027

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  a.	On or about July 26, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees working as Electric Arc Furnace Attendants at the Faircrest Steel Plant, Melt Shop, Electric Arc Furnace were protected from the recognized hazard(s) of steam explosions of the Electric Arc Furnace, that could cause death or serious injury. The employer required Electric Arc Furnace Attendants to work on and near the Electric Arc Furnace during furnace tapping operations, without providing them protection from the hazard(s) created by steam explosions, from water becoming encapsulated in the liquid metal bath. Electric Arc Furnace Attendants were required to work on or near the furnace during tapping operations to; observe the tap runner and liquid metal stream from the Southwest side of the furnace, make hand additions of bags of flux [bi-slag] material to the ladle on the Southeast side of the furnace, clean the floor with an air gun in the front and southwest side of the furnace, and change furnace electrodes from the catwalk on the front of the furnace.  Feasible and useful methods to correct the hazard include, but are not limited to, the following.  1.	Ensure that the area designated as the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) "Red Zone" is clear of all personnel during all EAF tapping and charging operations;  2.	Ensure that EAF personnel remain in the Operator's Pulpit [Main Pulpit], Tapping Pulpit, Streeter/Cool Room", and/or other designated safe location, designed and reinforced to protect against explosion(s);  3.	Utilize the Raw Material Handling (RMH) System or other similar system to eliminate EAF personnel from being required to be in the "Red Zone" area to make hand additions of flux (bi-slag) material during tapping operations;   4.	Ensure power to the EAF is turned off when lancing open the tap runner hole;   5.	Ensure EAF personnel check the EAF roof and vessel for water leaks between each heat, prior to lancing open the tap hole, and any time the power is off and the roof swung off from EAF; and  6.	Install cameras for EAF personnel to observe the tap runner, roof cage, and other critical components from a designated safe location.