OSHA Inspection: STANDARD STEEL, LLC

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,366 · Current $15,000

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 were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were operating forklifts without utilizing the seat belts present.  a. Melt Shop - On or about January 11, 2023, employees were operating forklifts to move materials around the facility, the employer failed to ensure that forklift operator restraint devices or seat belts were used, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from potential ejection from the operator's compartment.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(ii): Refresher training in relevant topics was not provided as required by (A)-(E) of this section:   a. Meltshop - On or about January 11, 2023, employees were operating powered industrial vehicles and did not  wear a seat belts,  the employer did not provide refresher training unsafe behavior was observed.  b. Meltshop - On or about January 11, 2023, the employer did not conduct refresher training when employees  operating powered industrial vehicles had  been involved in a near miss or accident, employees were exposed to struck by hazards.  c. Meltshop - On or about January 11, 2023, employees had been operating powered industrial vehicles that they had not been trained on after new equipment had been purchased, employees were exposed to struck by hazards.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not being conducted at least once every three years:   a. Meltshop - On or about January 11, 2023, employees were operating powered industrial vehicles that had not be evaluated within the past 3 years, and/or when  observed operating behavior showed that refresher training was necessary as employees were exposed to struck by hazards.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.   a. The LF platform - On or about October 20, 2022, the employees have to access the electrode platform to set the electrodes, employees are exposed to a fall hazard into dangerous equipment that generates thermal and electrical hazards.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(3): The employer did not ensure that guardrail systems are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge, at any point along the top rail.  a. Melt Shop - On or about October 20, 2022, the guard rail had been struck resulting in damage to the welds and top rail with a deflection of 2 inches, the employees were exposed to a fall hazard of greater than 10 feet.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:   a. Meltshop - On or about October 20, 2022, the tapping pit was not marked as confined space through signs or other means of making employees aware of the confined spaces, employees are exposed to caught in, and atmospheric hazards.  b. Meltshop - On or about October 20, 2022, the furnace pit was not marked as confined space through signs or other means of making employees aware of the confined spaces, employees are exposed to caught in, and atmospheric hazards.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $15,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  a. Meltshop Maintenance - On or about October 20, 2022, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard when a Jet bench grinder did not have  a tongue guards installed to reduce the top peripheral member to 1/4inch.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $15,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  a. Meltshop E8389 Load Center - The electrical E8389 cabinet had a 2" unused opening which was immediately above the dry breaker box and exposed employees to an electrical hazard.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,366 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a. Outside of the melt shop near at the dust collectors - On or about January 11, 2022, the employer was using extension cord/ cord splitter as permanent wiring, employees were exposed to electrical hazards.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 14, 2023

Abate by

Aug 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $34,375 · Current $19,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a. The Melt Shop - On or about October 20, 2022, there was a 36" gap in the guard rail system that employees exposed to a fall hazard from an unguarded opening into the furnace pit which was greater than 4' in depth.  b. The Melt Shop - On or about January 11, 2023, employees were working on the shot platforms over the smelting furnace, which was greater than 4 feet in height, employees were exposed to a fall hazard.  c. Electrode tank LVFD tank 1 and 2 - On or about October 20, 2022, the employees access the electrode tank platform to clean the tanks, the height of the lip of the tank is 37" exposing employees to a fall hazard into the open tank.  Standard Steel was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.28(b)(1)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1496592, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on 11/25/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 500 North Walnut Street, Burnham, PA 17009.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.