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OSHA Cites Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel for Safety Violations

12/14/2007 - OSHA proposes $210,000 in fines against Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel for alleged repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $210,000 in fines against Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corp for alleged repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA issues a Repeat Citation when an employer previously has been cited for a substantially similar violation and that citation and its penalty have become final.
 
Serious violations are issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious injury could occur from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
 
OSHA issued citations as the result of follow-up to a February 2006 inspection. Twelve repeat violations were cited with proposed penalties of $190,000. Among the repeat violations, the agency alleges that the company failed to provide adequate electrical safety training and work-related safety practices to employees; de-energize electrical equipment for servicing; provide flashback protection of cutting torch equipment; provide proper eyewash facilities; provide adequate standard railings on floors, runways and platforms; and provide proper safety signs or ratings for crane lifting devices.

OSHA also issued citations for seven serious violations with proposed penalties of $20,000, alleging that the company failed to replace missing railings on staircases; keep emergency exits cleared of obstructions; provide annual audiograms for all employees; provide proper personal protective equipment and training; properly inspect electrical parts for hazards before use; and provide proper insulated tools for working on energized electrical parts.

OSHA has inspected Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel 10 times since 2004, including this follow-up to an inspection after an employee fatality that occurred in February 2006.

Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.