OSHA Inspection: WISCONSIN THERMOSET MOLDING, INC.

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Feb 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

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) Employee was permitted to perform a maintenance function on an
energized Thermex preheater, Model 3RA84, serial number Z1160-T
resulting in fatal electrical contact on 10-18-88. The contributing
factors were evidenced by the following findings: 1) Decedent was a
trainee and unqualified to work on "live" electrical equipment
exhibiting an "untrained" response to the task at hand. 2) No
specific procedures or methodology was developed for lockout/tagout
practices. 3) Employee decedent was at ground potential with no
protective gloves, insulative floor mats or other isolating equipment
was utilized. 4) DC circuit was energized by drawer try in the "in"
position with timer "on" in the heating mode. 5) Manufacturers
electrical circuit safety interlocks were circumvented by wiring
them in the "open" position after protective side panels were
removed for access. 6) No danger signs indicating high voltage were
on the preheater.
FEASIBLE ABATEMENT METHODS
1) Develop safe work practices for de-energizing circuits and equipment
to prevent electric 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 consistant with the nature and extent of the associated
electrical hazards and developed before the circuits and equipment
are de-energized.
2) De-energized live parts to which on employee may be exposed before
the employee works on or near them, unless it can be demonstrated
that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is
infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitiations. In
such cases, the procedures 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 interlocks, may not be used as the
safe means for de-energizing circuits or equipment. Interlocks for
electric 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 disconnecting means used to de-
energize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed.
They 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 for 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:
i) Tags are of a distinctive, employer-standardized, design that
clearly prohibits unauthorized energizing of circuits and removal of
the tag.
ii) Additional safety measures, such as removal of isolating circuit
elements, blocking of controlling switches or opening extra
disconnecting devices are employed.
iii) Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized.
iv) The tagout period does not extend beyond the work shift.
v) All persons who have access to controlling devices are trained and
familiar with the employer's tagging procedures.
7) Qualified person, shall operate the equipment operating controls or
otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted. The
qualified person shall use test equipment to test circuit elements
and electrical parts to which employees will be exposed and shall
verifty that they 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 backfeet 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 can be safely energized. A visual determination shall be
made to assure all employees are clear of circuits and equipment
before they are energized.
9) Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or
equipment that have not been de-energized in accordance with items 1
through 8 above. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on
energized circuits and shall be familiar with proper use of special
precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating
and shielding materials and insulating 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 circuit 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 familiar with the safety-related work practices that pertain to
their respective job assignements. Furthermore, qualified 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:
i) The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live
parts from other parts of electric equipment.
ii) The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal
voltage of exposed live parts.
iii) Safety-related work practices used to protect employees against
contact with energized circuit parts directly with any part of their
body or indirectly through other conductive objects.

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 14, 1988

Penalty

Initial $240

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Jan 26, 1989

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $260 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Jan 26, 1989

Penalty

Initial $240 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Mar 15, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 2, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 23, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 23, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Nov 20, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 2, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 2, 1988

Penalty

Initial $160 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Nov 29, 1988

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Dec 2, 1988

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Nov 20, 1988

Issued

Nov 17, 1988

Abate by

Nov 20, 1988