Published: October 28, 2009 11:18 pm      

Death of worker results in fine from state

Steel Dynamics docked $240,000 for August incident

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Steel Dynamics Inc., of Jeffersonville, $240,000 for safety violations stemming from an August incident that left one worker dead.

The death of the worker and the injury of another occurred when a furnace released nitrogen fumes Aug. 5.

“Two individuals were working on top of a piece of manufacturing equipment about 20 feet off the ground when some type of nitrogen release happened,” Jeffersonville Fire Department Maj. Mike McCutcheon told The Evening News for a previous report.

A subsequent investigation by the Indiana Department of Labor — which oversees IOSHA — resulted in a safety order and fines being issued to Steel Dynamics. The violations totaled $240,000 from serious, knowing and repeat violations and were

“There were a number of issues with the furnace that needed to be resolved years ago,” said Jeff Carter, deputy commissioner with the Department of Labor.

According to Carter and the Department of Labor report, the furnace — in an confined place — was emitting nitrogen and also creating low levels of oxygen.

Steel Dynamics knew of the recognized hazards of exposure and could have provided gas monitors or respiratory equipment to workers to be in compliance with safety measures, but failed to do so, according to the report.

Among other violations cited in the safety order and notification of penalty were previous injuries to workers that had not been recorded, failure to abide by and have permits for a confined-space program, failure of employees to log in when entering a confined space and failure to properly train employees.

However, the single violation that carried the heaviest individual fine was a “knowing” violation.

“The employer did not establish and maintain conditions of work which were reasonably safe and healthful for employees, and free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm,” the report says.

Repeat violations were issued for lack of permits for the confined-space programs — the company was previously cited at its Pittsboro location — and failure to be in proximity to rescue services trained to provide confined-space rescue.

Corrective action for all violations must be completed by Nov. 22 or 24, depending on the type of infraction.

While multiple officials with Steel Dynamics were contacted, no one would comment because they said they have yet to receive the report and notification of penalty.

The Fort Wane-based Steel Dynamics is the nation’s fifth-largest producer of carbon and steel products, and its Jeffersonville location — purchased in 2003 and located at 5134 Loop Road — specializes in galvanizing light-gauge steel. It is part of the company’s flat-rolled steel division, according to its Web site.