Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 recogn ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to e mployees in that employees were exposed to the hazards of steam vapor and molten metal released during a rapidly expanding steam vapor/molten metal explosion: a - Casting Department - On or about 02/03/04, the quad ladle on casting machine # 2 was struck by an out of position trough as the machine progressed up hill. In turn, the ladle dipped and released a large amount of molten iron into the machi ne bed which contained accumulated water. The resulting explosion liberated stea m and molten iron into the work area. b- Casting Department - On or about 02/03/ 04, cab glass in hot metal crane #1 was cracked and damaged by flying molten met al liberated by the above noted explosion. The cab's front window was compromise d with cracks and later fell out during crane operation. Crane operators were not provided adequate protection from heat and f lying molten metal afforded by intact and properly secured cab glass. Feasible a nd acceptable methods among others to correct the hazard are to: 1- Repair all c asting machine leaks to include those associated with cooling water and water so luble hydraulics; 2- Ensure that the casting bed is as free as practicable of ac cumulations of standing water by effectively maintaining the drainage system to include pumps and water levels under the #4 casting line; 3- Prevent the pooling of water near/under areas where molten metal is poured and/or transferred to in clude but not limited to quad ladles so as to prevent an explosion hazard; 4- De velop and implement a long term solution to the practice of isolating casting lines 1-3 from the # 4 basement; 5- Ensure crane cab windows are maintained in a ccordance with ANSI B30.2.0- 1967 Section 2-1.4.2 which states that hot metal ha ndling crane cabs exposed to excessive heat shall be provided with a cab enclose d for outdoor protection. The windows shall have a metal sash and heat resisting safety type glass or equivalent.