OSHA Inspection: MATCO ELECTRIC, INC.

Issued

Jun 24, 1994

Abate by

Jun 29, 1994

Penalty

Initial $975 · Current $488 Reduced

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)ELEVATION 429 LIMESTONE PREP. AREA, EMPLOYEES WERE
OPERATING A CORD CONNECTED POWER DRIVE, RIGID MODEL
535 (SERIAL #327480) PIPE THREAD MACHINE WITHOUT THE USE
OF A MOMENTARY CONTACT DEVICE TO CONTROL POWER INPUT
TO THE MACHINE AS REQUIRED BY ANSI B208.1-1982, SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS FOR PIPE TOOLS, CORD CONNECTED, SECTION
4.4.
METHOD OF ABATEMENT:  Momentary foot switch, Foot switch shall be guarded
to prevent unintended operation.  Refer to 29CFR
1910.217(b)(4)(i,ii,iii,iv).
HAZARD:  Employees exposed to the hazard of rotating parts.  Employees may
become injured if clothing were to become entangled in the rotating parts
of
the
Rigid model #535 cord connected pipe threading machine.
HAZARD RECOGNITION:  American National Standards Institute, ANSI
208.11982,
for tools-cord connected portable pipe threading machines and
portable power
drives-safety requirements, section 4.4 require "A momentary contact
device shall
be used to control the power input to the cord connected portable pipe
threading
machine or power drive.  If a foot switch is used it shall be guarded."
The employer
John Augustine, stated that a momentary foot switch could be provided for
the pipe
thread machine.
SEE ATTACHED ANSI B208.1-1982
LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM:  Documented incidents have
shown that when clothing becomes entangled with the rotating parts of the
cord
connected pipe threading machines, the high torque produces serious
physical
injuries including fractured ribs and difficulty in breathing.  Employee
entangled in
the machine may not be able to  reach the on/off switch prolonged self
rescuer
attempts and increasing the serious nature of the injuries.
SEE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, OCT.
1988
ABATEMENT METHOD:  Momentary foot switch.  This foot switch shall be
designed in the manner as a "dead man control" so that when pressure is
released
the machine stops operation.  The foot switch shall be guarded in a manner
so to
protect from unintended operation by accidentally stepping on the pedal
orfalling/moving objects contacting the pedal.  The pad of the foot switch
should be
non slip surface.
"A search has been made of the 29 CFR Standards and no standard applies to
the
cited condition.  Refer to July 25, 1989, Region II memorandum from Acting
ARA
Technical Support, Subject: Portable Power Drive Pipe Threading Machine."

Issued

Jun 24, 1994

Abate by

Jun 29, 1994