Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LOCKOUT

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent 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 in that employees were exposed to: .....the hazard of a large unexpected release of carbon monoxide gas. The Bailey Thermal Goggle Valve located on stove deck #3, Blast Furnace B which is in line with the Clean Gas Main does not have written standard operating procedures or safe work practices so that employees who are responsible for swinging/sealing the valve have consistent work practices to minimize or eliminate the possibility of the release of dangerous levels of CO gas in the work area(s) of the stove deck. General methods of abatement applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to the following; 1) writing detailed safe work practices/standard operating procedures for the process of swinging/sealing the Bailey Goggle Valve. 2) conduct formal training with all handymen and whomever else is responsible for the safe operating/handling of the Bailey Goggle Valve and all other employees exposed to the hazards associated with the operation of the valve, including outside contractors. 3) Assure that once the goggle is swung and the furnace put back on line that the expansion valve is properly seated. This can be done by requiring the handymen to physically observe that proper sealing has occurred. 4) Install fixed CO monitors around the perimeter of the expansion valve to assure that if leaking does occur that all employees are alerted that this area of the stove deck is off limits until such time that the leak can be isolated and repaired. 5) Lock out the steam valve once the expansion valve has been properly seated. DISCLAIMERS: 1) The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA. 2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. 3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate abatement method.