OSHA Inspection: CUNA MUTUAL INSURANCE

Issued

Jan 3, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish emloyment 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:
On or about December 12, 1988, unqualified employees were exposed to
the hazard of energized electrical wires while working on light
fixtures.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish and enforce an adequate plant
lockout/tagout procedure such as that stipulated NFPA 70E - 1983.
National Fire Protection Association Standard for Electrical Safety
Requirements for Employee Workplaces.  Essential elements of the lockout
/tagout procedure would include:
1) Develop safe work practices for de-energizing circuits and equipment
to prevent electrical work shock or other injuries resulting from
direct or indirect electrical contacts when the work is performed
near or on equipment circuits which are or may be energized. These
practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the
associated electrical hazards and developed before the circuits and
equipment are de-energized.
2) De-energize live parts to which and employee may be exposed before on
or near them.  Unless it can be demonstrated that de-energizing
intro-duces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to
equipment design or operational limitations.  In such cases, the
procedures outlined in item 9 for working on energized equipment
shall be followed.
3) Disconnect all electric sources from circuits and equipment upon
which work is to be performed.  Control circuit devices. Such as push
buttons, selector switches and inter-locks, may not be used as the
safe means for de-energizing circuits or equipment.  Interlocks for
electrical equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and
tagging procedures.
4) Release stored electrical energy in circuits and equipment which
might endanger personnel. Capacitors shall be discharged and high
capacitance elements shall be short-circuited and grounded.
5) Place a lock and a tag on each dis-connecting means used to de-
energize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed. The
lock shall be attached so as to prevent persons from operating the
disconnecting means unless they resort to undue force or use of
tools. The tag shall contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized
operations of the disconnecting means and removal of the tag.
6) If a lock cannot be applied, a tag may be used without a lock
provided the following additional requirements are met:
1) Tags are of a distinctive, employer-standardized, design that clearly
prohibits unauthorized energizing of circuits and removalof the tag.
2) Additional safety measures, such as removal of isolating circuits
elements, blocking of controlling switches or opening extra
disconnecting devices, are employed.
3) Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized.
4) The tagout period does not extend beyond the work shift.
5) All persons who have access to controlling devices are trained and
familiar with the employer's tagging procedures.
6) If a lock cannot be applied, a tag may be used without a lock
provided the following additional requirements are met:
1) Tags are of a distinctive, employer-standardized, design that clearly
prohibits unauthorized energizing of circuits and removal of the tag.
2) Additional safety measures, such as removal of isolating elements,
blocking of controlling switches or opening extra disconnecting
devices, are employed.
3) Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized.
4) The tagout period does not extend beyond the work shift.
5) All persons who have access to controlling devices are trained and
familiar with the employer's tagging procedures.
7) A qualified person (see 29 CFR 1910.399(a)(100) shall operate the
equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the equipment
cannot be restarted.  The qualified person shall use test equipment
to test circuits elements and electrical parts to which employees
will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and
equipment parts are de-energized before work is allowed to proceed.
The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists as
a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage
backfeed. Even though specific parts of the circuit have been de-
energized and presumed to be safe.
8) Before circuits or equipment are re-energized, even temporarily, a
qualified person shall conduct tests and visual inspections, as
necessary, to verify all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts grounds
and other such devices have been removed so that the circuits and
equipment before they are energized.
Only qualified persons may work on electrical circuits parts or
equipment that have not been energized in accordance with items
through 8 above. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on
energized circuits and shall be capable of working safely on
energized circuits and shall be familiar with proper use of special
precautionary techniques, personal protective tools. Safety related
work practices shall be developed which are suitable to the work
being performed and for the voltage level of the exposed electric
conductors or circuits parts.
10) Employees who may reasonably be expected to face a risk of injury
due to electric shock or other electrical hazards shall be trained in
and and familiar with the safety-related work practices outlined in
items 1 through 7 above that pertain to their respective job
assignments. Furthermore, qualifeid persons (i.e. those permitted to
work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, in addition to the
above training requirements, also be trained in and familiar with the
following:
1) The skills and techniques necessary to distinquish exposed live parts
from other parts of electric equipment.
2) The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage
of exposed live parts.
3) Safety-related work practices used to protect employees against
contact with energized circuits parts directly with any part of their
body or indirectly through other conductive objects.