OSHA Inspection: M&N PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

Issued

Feb 13, 1995

Abate by

Feb 16, 1995

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $300

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:
a)GROUND FLOOR IN THE NEW BOILER ROOM, A EMPLOYEE WAS
OPERATING A RIGID 300 PIPE THREADING MACHINE WHICH WAS
ACTIVATED BY A TOGGLE SWITCH THAT WOULD NOT
AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THE MACHINE OFF IF ITS OPERATOR WAS
INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT UP IN ITS ROTATING PARTS; ON OR
ABOUT 12/20/95.
ABATEMENT NOTES:
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE METHOD TO REDUCE THIS HAZARD IS TO
ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE ADEQUATE SAFE OPERATING
PROCEDURES.  PROCEDURES SUCH AS THOSE STIPULATED IN THE
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR PORTABLE PIPE THREADING
MACHINES (ANSI B208.1-1982).  ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO AN
ACCEPTABLE SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM:
1.INSTALLATION OF A MOMENTARY CONTACT DEVICE
(DEADMAN FOOT SWITCH) TO CONTROL POWER INPUT TO
THE MACHINE.  THIS DEVICE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY
STOP THE MACHINE AND THE ROTATING PIPE IF THE
OPERATOR'S FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE FOOT
SWITCH FOR ANY REASON.
2.PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO THE MACHINE
OPERATORS CONCERNING ALL THE APPROPRIATE
PROCEDURES FOR THE SAFE OPERATION AND USE OF THIS
TYPE OF MACHINERY.