OSHA Inspection: NABISCO BRANDS, DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Issued

Jan 24, 1990

Abate by

Jan 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

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) Potential fractures and lacerations from falling off automated
conveyors or their limbs being caught by in-running nip points on
moving parts of the conveyors on palletizers numbers 10 and 11 in
the north distribution center.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish and enforce an adequate lockout
procedure for operation of palletizers which would include the following
essentials:
1) Shut-off and lockout electrical power to conveyors or palletizers
and bleed off any residula eneergy:
2) Provide each potentially exposed employee who operates a palletizer
with a separate lock and key to be placed on the lockout means;
3) Establish and ensure that employees follow a written lockout policy,
which includes procedures to be followed and training for all
affected employees, both maintenance and operational crews:
4) Periodically evaluate the lockout program and strictly enforce all
of its provisions.
These abatement methods are based, in part, on recommendations in
the American National Standards Institute. (ANSI) standard No.
Z244.1-1982 which recognizes the need for lockouts.