LOTO Citations Filed Against U.S. Steel Corp.
OSHA said both U.S. Steel Corp. and Power Piping Co. failed to provide an effective energy control procedure, which resulted in an explosion at the Clairton Works in which workers suffered burns and serious injuries.
OSHA announced Thursday it has filed a total of $175,000 in penalties against U.S. Steel Corp. and Power Piping Co., a contractor hired to provide steamfitting services at the U.S. Steel Clairton Works facility in Clairton, Pa., in connection with an explosion last July that injured workers for both companies.
U.S. Steel was cited for two allegedly willful and 11 allegedly serious violations, with a total penalty of $143,500. Power Piping Co. was cited for six allegedly serious violations, with $31,500 in penalties. "U.S. Steel and Power Piping did not have the proper controls in place to prevent worker exposure to hazardous energy," said Robert Szymanski, director of OSHA's Pittsburgh’s Area Office. "These violations must be abated immediately to prevent future incidents."
The alleged willful violations involve failing to provide an effective energy control procedure. The serious violations against U.S. Steel include a lack of fall protection, inadequate lockout/tagout to prevent the inadvertent release of energy, a deficient process safety management program, and failure to implement an emergency response plan, evaluate respiratory hazards, use flame-retardant gloves and use approved electrical equipment. Power Piping's alleged serious violations include inadequate energy control procedures, a lack of flame-retardant hand protection, and failing to evaluate the respiratory hazards posed by coke oven gases.