Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 026A Hazard: HEAT

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 explosion hazards associated with tank failure due to pressure vessels operating without a certificate of operation: a) Iron and Transportation Division 1) Blast Furnace #3 Pump House - An air tank (NB12039) with a nominal operating pressure of 60 psig, did not have a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed September 12, 1989. 2) Blast Furnace Department - Stockhouse - Three larry car air tanks operating at 60 psig nominal, were unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed June 20, 1989. b) Rolling Division 1) 30" Motor Room - The oil surge tank for the horizontal oil system with an operating pressure of 50 psig nominal was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 10, 1989. 2) 30" Motor Room - The oil surge tank for the pinion and bevel system with an operating pressure of 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 10, 1989. 3) 40" Mill - North end of Oil Cellar - Two oil surge tanks with an operating pressure of 30 psig nominal, were unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 10, 1989. 4) 45" Mill - Oil and Pump Cellar - An oil separation surge tank (operating pressure was unknown as pressure gauge was not provided) was unlawfully operated as the certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania posted on the wall was for the period 1971 through 1973, observed August 7, 1989. 5) 80" Mill Basement - The scaling accumulator with an operating pressure of 1000 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 6) 80" Mill - West side of Roughers #3 and #4 Three air compressor storage tanks with operating pressures of 90 psig nominal, were unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 7) 80" Mill - #1, #2, and #3 Coiler Air Tanks - Three air tanks (operating pressure was unknown as pressure gauges were not installed) were unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 22, 1989. 8) 80" Mill - Coiler Area - The coiler oil surge tank observed at 22 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 28, 1989. 9) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The Bowser Inc. surge tank with an operating pressure of 60 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 10) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The back up filter tank operating at 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 11) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - the gear drive surge tank operating at 60 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 12) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - the gear drive filter tank with an operating pressure of 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 13) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The pinon oil surge tank operating at 60 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 14) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The pinon oil filter tank operating at 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 15) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The motor oil surge tank with an operating pressure of 60 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 16) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The motor oil filter tank with an operating pressure of 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 17) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The vertical edger surge tank operating at 60 psig nominal, was unlawfullyoperated without a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 18) 80" Mill - Oil Cellar - The vertical edger system filter tank operating at 50 psig nominal, was unlawfully operated without a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 29, 1989. 19) The cardox storage tanks for the carbon dioxide total flooding systems were unlawfully operated without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed August 31, 1989. c) Steel Producing Division 1) Open Hearth - Two fire tube waste heat boilers (serial numbers B015583 and B015584) were unlawfully operating without having a current certificate of operation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, observed July 28, 1989. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is for the employer to comply with all the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety Boiler Law (Act No. 451) for all pressure vessels. The pressure vessel inspection log-book, that was maintained by Mr. O'Brien, indicated approximately 750 or more vessels that were not inspected within the timeframes of the 34 PA Code, Chapter 3, Section 3.12.