Text For Citation: 03 Item/Group: 012 Hazard: LIFTING

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 death or crushing hazards from possible failure of defective or improper lifting devices: a. Rolling Division 1) 80" Mill - Coiler Area - The Heppenstall (V-10) 50,000 pound capacity vertical axis coil grab had the keeper plat bolts sheared off at a pivot joint creating a potential safety hazard while liftng 7 to 15 ton coils, observed August 22, 1989. 2) 80" Mill - Slay Yard #2 - The four magnet lifting beam assembly had one of its two main support bolts significantly backed out of its nut creating a potential safety hazard at the #42 semi- gantry crane while lifting slabs weighing 7 to 15 tons, observed August 14, 1989. 3) 80" Mill - Slab Yard #1 - The Heppenstall (used on crane #34) 80 ton capacity automatic slab tong (four-point type) had six bolts missing from keeper plates at pivot points and a cotter pin missing from the loose "monkey hoist" bolt (bolt could be backed off by hand) creating a potential safety hazard while lifting 5 to 6 slabs (each weighing 7 to 15 tons) at a time, observed August 11, 1989. 4) 80" Mill - Coiler Area - The Heppenstall (#4447) 40,000 pound capacity vertical axis coil grab had one of two keeper plate bolts backed out at a pivot joint creating a potential safety hazard while lifting 7 to 15 ton coils, observed August 22, 1989. 5) 80" Mill - Slab Yard #2 - The Heppenstall (#45) 80 ton capacity automatic slab tong (four point type) three loose keeper ring bolts on the lower stabilizer beam with a bolt missing on keeper ring located at the other end of the beam creating a potential safety hazard while lifting 5 to 6 slabs (each weighing between 7 to 15 tons) at a time, observed August 14, 1989. 6) Central Maintenance Division - #2 Soaking Pit - The alloy chain lifting beam assembly used to lift pallets of materials (e.g. refractory, mortar) had one of the two lifting bars bent significantly creating a potential safety hazard, observed July 31, 1989. b) Sheet and Tin Division 1) Roll Shop #1 - The homemade spindle lifting device was not tested before it was used to hoist 200 pound rolls onto the lathe,. observed August 7, 1989. 2) C Hooks are used to hoist coils of steel weighing from several pounds to 50,000 pounds. Numerous nuts were found to be loose on the plates or lifting eye. Failure of these securing devices could cause the load to drop 20-30 feet, observed June 28, 1989. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a below-the-hook lifting device safety program as described in ANSI B30.20-1985. This program should, at a minimum, include: 1) Marking, construction, and installation; 2) Inspection, testing, and maintenance; and, 3) Operation requirements for structural/mechanical and remotely operated lifting devices, etc.