OSHA Inspection: SARATOGA SPECIALTIES

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jul 10, 1989

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $540

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
the hazard of being caught in crushing and/or amputation whenperforming
inspections, set-up, adjustments, clearing jams or maintenance on
machinery or equipment such as the sifters, airlocks, mills, ribbon
blenders and bucket elevators.
In the establishment, the employer did not provide an adequate program,
nor were employees adequately trained in the recognition of hazards,
safe shut down of machines and reducing machines to zero mechanical
state as evident by the operation of the sifters, airlocks, mills,
ribbon blenders and bucket elevators.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish and enforce and adequate plant
lockout procedure such as the stipulated by ANSI Z244.1-1982, Section
4 and 5, American National Standard of Minimum Safety Requirements for
Lockout/Tagout of Energy Sources for Personnel Protection.
Specific elements of the abatement program shall be expected to include,
but not necessarily be limited to:
1) Establish a comprehensive written procedure for lock-out which
include procedures designed to instruct and train employees in
recognition of hazards and proper lock-out procedures.
2) Require lock-out before any maintenance, inspection, clearing,
adjusting or servicing that requires employees to enter or be in
close contact with machinery or equipment.
3) Maintain available operation and maintenance manuals on all machinery
or equipment. Assure that these manuals and other appropriate
information are provided to employees before work is begun.
4) Establish and use a documented work order system which includes
Supervisors' approval to reactivate machinery or equipment.
5) Disconnect or isolate machinery or equipment by positioning the
switch, valve or other energy isolating device so that all energy
sources (e.g. electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, etc.) are de-
activated. Stored energy such as that in capacitors, springs,
elevated machine members, roating flywheels, hydraulic systems and
gas, air, steam or water pressure, etc., must be dissipated or
restrained by methods such as grounding, repositioning, blocking,
bleeding down, etc.
6) Require that each exposed employee lock-out the energy isolating
device with his/her personal lock.
7) Test machinery or equipment to ensure that the energy sources have
been effectively disconnected or isolated.  As a precautionary
measures, return the operating controls to the "OFF" position after
the test has been completed. NOTE:  The test shall only be performed
after ensuring that no employees are exposed in the machine or
equipment area.
8) Remove locks only after ensuring the safety of all exposed
employees.
9) Train employees responsible for machinery or equipment lock-out in
all elements of the program.  This training shall be repeated as
frequently as necessary to maintain management and work proficiency
and compliance with the procedure.
10) Evaluate the program periodically to ensure continued use and
adequacy.
11) Enforce all provisions of the program.

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jun 23, 1989

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jun 23, 1989

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $540

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jul 25, 1989

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $270

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jul 25, 1989

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Jul 25, 1989

Issued

May 24, 1989

Abate by

Oct 25, 1989