Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) has fined U.S. Steel Corporation a total of $10,000, after inspections conducted at Gary Works following the death of worker uncovered two safety violations.

Alexander Santoyo, 54, of Valparaiso, died June 6 after a fall from an overhead crane at the facility, the Lake County Coroner’s Office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:35 p.m. and the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma.

Multiple inspections conducted at the facility by IOSHA between June 6 and June 23 uncovered a pair of safety violations, IOSHA reported on July 24:

*“Fall protection was not used by employees working on a (charging) crane 80 to 90 feet above ground level in which an employee fell to his death,” IOSHA said. An “acceptable means to abate this hazard is to develop a policy to enforce the use of fall protection.” IOSHA indicted that this violation was abated at the time of the inspection.

*“A ladder attached to the charging crane frame had the center of rungs less than seven inches from the back of the crane frame,” IOSHA also said. As IOSHA spokesman Sean Keefer explained, “Think of a ladder where you only get part of your foot on the rung. Supporting your weight while climbing becomes problematic.” IOSHA gave USS a deadline of Sept. 10 to abate this violation.

Both violations were deemed “serious” by IOSHA and each resulted in a fine of $5,000.

A “serious” violation,” Keefer said, “is one that causes or is likely to cause serious injury or death. Since a man died in the incident, the courts generally hold this is adequate to uphold a serious violation of the act.”

USS spokesperson Erin DiPietro told the Chesterton Tribune today that the company does not intend to appeal IOSHA’s order or fines. “We have received and reviewed Safety Order and Notification of Penalty sent by IOSHA related to the June 6 fatality at Gary works,” she stated. “Issues raised by IOSHA in the order have already been addressed, and we plan to pay the penalties without objection.”

“Safety has been--and will continue to be--our primary core value, and we will continue to focus our efforts on preventing all types of incidents at our facilities and ensuring the safety of all U.S. Steel employees,” DiPietro added.

Posted 7/31/2009