OSHA Inspection: BECTON DICKINSON & COMPANY

Issued

Nov 6, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $900

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
The hazard of amputations, severe lacerations and/or crushing of
fingers and handsa as the result of unexpected or accidental movement
of the machines or equipment. On March 17, 1989 an employee sustained
severe lacerations to her hand while working on blister pack number 3
machine. She was unjamming the air knives when a supervisor in the
area activated the air valve causing the knives to move, the knives
struck her hand causing the lacerations. The employer did not provide
employees engaged in set-up, maintenance and servicing which includes
unjamming of the machines with adequate lockout/tagout procedures and
training so as to prevent them from being in the danger area during
the required work on the machines.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to:
1) Do a job hazard analysis on each machine to locate and identify all
isolating devices to be certain which switches, valves or other
energy devices which apply to the type of to be done on the
machines.
2) Identify the sequence to be followed to insure the ma chines are in
zero-mechanical state before work is started and after machine has
been tested and more work must be done on the machine.
3) Instruct the appropriate employees in the significance of the
lockout/tagout procedure. Each new or transferred employee must be
trained on that machine before they start work and as the need
arises.
4) Conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at
least annually to ensure the procedure is being followed.