Region 6 News Release:   OSHA-01-90
August 8, 2001
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

OSHA CITES SHEFFIELD STEEL CORP. IN SAND SPRINGS, OKLA., FOR ALLEGED SAFETY AND HEALTH VIOLATIONS WITH PENALTIES TOTALING $63,125

DALLAS-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Sheffield Steel Corp. in Sand Springs, Okla., with 14 alleged safety and health violations and proposed penalties totaling $63,125.

Sheffield Steel Corp. is a steel mill that employs about 700 workers company-wide, 300 of which are in employed at the company's headquarters in Sand Springs.

The alleged safety violations were discovered during separate safety and health inspections that began June 5, 2001, under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting (SST) program. The SST program are inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries. Sheffield was cited for five serious, three repeat and four other-than-serious violations.

The alleged serious violations were for unguarded floor holes, open sided platforms without handles, blocked aisles and for failing to determine confined space hazards. Employees who enter and work inside a confined space must follow a precise series of steps to control hazardous conditions before entry. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

The alleged repeat violations were for failing to provide adequate lockout/tagout procedures, appropriate guarding of machines and blocked access to electrical disconnect boxes and circuit breakers. Lockout/tagout refers to the proper labeling and shut down of an energy source. The repeat violations were based on an inspection of a Sheffield Steel Corp., facility in Illinois, where similar violations were found. A repeat violation is one in which any standard, regulation, rule or order where, upon reinspection, a substantially similar violation is found.

The alleged other-than-serious violations were for failing to provide adequate eye protection, exit signs, and for failing to separate oxygen cylinders from fuel gas cylinders. An other-than-serious violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety and or health of the employees.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call the OSHA office in Oklahoma City at (405) 278-9560. Or, call OSHA's toll-free hotline number at 1-800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

Sheffield Steel Corp. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to either comply, request an informal conference with the Oklahoma City OSHA area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.