OSHA Inspection: LAWMAN HEATING & COOLING INC.

Issued

Jan 26, 1996

Abate by

Jan 31, 1996

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $700

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)BOILER ROOM, ON OR ABOUT 10/25/95; AN EMPLOYEE WAS
OPERATING A RIGID 300 PIPE THREADING MACHINE THAT WAS
ACTIVATED BY A TOGGLE SWITCH THAT WOULD NOT
AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THE MACHINE OFF IF THE OPERATOR
WAS INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT IN ITS ROTATING PARTS.
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 STANDARDS 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.