Inspection Detail

Inspection: 105474902 - Georgetown Steel Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Inspection Nr: 105474902

Report ID: 0454510

Date Opened: 03/22/1988

Site Address:
Georgetown Steel Corporation
Fraser St.
Georgetown, SC 29440

Mailing Address:
1901 Roxborough Rd., Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 25211

Union Status: Union

SIC:3312

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 04/18/1988

Planning Guide: Health-Manufacturing

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 09/07/1988

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360283527

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$800	$0	$0	$0	$0	$800
Current Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	10012 A	04/29/1988	06/02/1988	$0	$800	$0	05/26/1988	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 674192

Event: 03/21/1988

EMPLOYEE ASPHYXIATED IN CONFINED SPACE FILLED WITH ARGON

ON MARCH 21, 1988, EMPLOYEE #1 APPARENTLY ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE OF AN EXCESS ARGON USAGE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. IN DOING SO HE ENTERED, ALONE, A LADLE TURRET WHICH OFTEN CONTAINS ARGON GAS. THE TURRET IS 15 FEET IN DIAMETER AND HAS 2 DOORS ON THE BOTTOM SECTION AND ONE DOOR IN THE UPPER LADLE HOLDER. THE CEILING IS 8 FEET HIGH. A CONTRACTOR ON SITE REMEMBERED SOMEONE WEARING A WHITE HARD HAT AND COVERALLS ENTERING THE BOTTOM TURRET BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9 AM. NO ONE NOTICED EMPLOYEE #1 THE REST OF THE DAY. AT ABOUT 12:30 AM EMPLOYEE #1'S WIFE CALLED THE PLANT BECAUSE HER HUSBAND HAD NOT COME HOME. EMPLOYEES NOTICED THAT EMPLOYEE #1'S TRUCK WAS STILL PARKED AT THE PLANT SO THEY BEGAN LOOKING FOR HIM. HE WAS FOUND, DEAD, IN THE LADLE TURRET AT ABOUT 1 AM. LOCAL FIRE FIGHTERS, EQUIPPED WITH SCBA'S, RETRIEVED EMPLOYEE #1'S BODY. (APPARENTLY THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER WHO WROTE THIS REPORT PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT THE CONTINUATION SHEET HAS BEEN LOST. W.G.)

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, ASPHYXIATED, LADLE, WORK RULES, ARGON, CONFINED SPACE

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	105474902			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.