POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Richard A. Manson, Lisa K. Christen and Gretchen A. Sterling and each
of them, as the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with full power
of substitution and revocation, for the undersigned and in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to execute, on behalf of
the undersigned, (1) any and all notices pursuant to Rule l44 under the
Securities Act of 1933 with respect to sales of shares of common stock, without
par value, or other securities, of Olympic Steel, Inc., including, without
limitation, all notices of proposed sale on Form 144, and (2) any and all
statements or reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
with respect to the beneficial ownership of common stock, without par value, or
other securities, of Olympic Steel, Inc., including, without limitation, all
initial statements of beneficial ownership on Form 3, all statements of changes
in beneficial ownership on Form 4, all annual statements of beneficial ownership
on Form 5 and all successor or similar forms, to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, to execute any and all amendments or supplements to any
such notices, statements or reports, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, and each of
them, full power and authority to do so and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises (including, without
limitation, completing, executing, delivering and filing a Form ID to apply for
electronic filing codes), as fully and to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney or attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, and each of them,
in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming
any of the responsibilities of the undersigned to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any other legal requirement.  This Power of
Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked in writing by the undersigned.



                                    /s/ Idalene F. Kesner
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Name:  Idalene F. Kesner



Date:  March 14, 2019