OSHA Inspection: GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., AIRCRAFT ENGINE GROUP

Issued

Jun 7, 1991

Abate by

Jul 19, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $2,125

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) Employees entering testing cell 44 were exposed to an increased risk
of accidental aircraft engine start up, fire and explosion from undetect
ed system faults in the aircraft engine and test cell facility control
systems.
The aircraft engine and test cell facility controls were continuously
montiored by the computer control system to detect hazardous operating
conditions which might cause a fire or explosion inside the test cell.
The audible safety alarms located in the control room as part of the
computer control safety alarms located in the control room as part of
the fuel, ignition, throttle, starter air, and steam systems were wired
to one single fault acknowledge button which was routinely by passed by
locking the button in the reset position. In this position, the audible
safety alarms in the control room were not activated and the controls
were not constantly monitored by an operator to detect hazardous
conditions such as a fuel leak, high pressure in the steam and air lines
or an employee trapped in the test cell.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to install a separate fault acknowledge button
for the main control systems which can only be reset from a location
that is remote or separate from the main controls and which cannot be
bypassed.

Issued

Jun 7, 1991

Abate by

Jul 19, 1992

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

Issued

Jun 7, 1991

Abate by

Jul 19, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125

Issued

Jun 7, 1991

Abate by

Jul 19, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125