Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard: EXPLOSION

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 death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to an molten metal explosion hazard resulting from moving and dumping slag, which was not completely cooled, with a front end loader in an area which contained puddles of water. a) #1 Yard, West of Blister Area, Adjacent to Fence - on July 8, 1989, an employee was instructed by the smelter superintendent to use a front end loader to break up blister slag and move it to the #2 yard. The core of this slag still contained molten metal and the area where the slag was to be broken up contained puddles of water. The likelihood of molten metal flowing into a damp location created an explosion hazard. Observed 07/25/89 and 08/04/89. A feasible means of abatement would be to develop and implement a formal tracking system for each time that a slag pan is filled assure that it is completely cooled before it is moved or broken up, and ensure that dry conditions are maintained.