OSHA Inspection: NFL ELECTRIC CO., INC.

Issued

May 7, 1996

Abate by

May 10, 1996

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $250 Reduced

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 having limbs being pulled into and crushed
by the rotating parts
of a pipe threader:
a) Service building on or about 02-12-96,
The employees who were operating the portable electric Rigid 300 pipe
threader were not
protected from the hazard of being inadvertently caught in the rotating
parts of the machine in
that a pressure activated switch (foot pedal) was not provided.
Abatement Note: among other methods one feasible method to reduce this
hazard is to establish
and enforce safe operating procedures. Procedures such as those stipulated
in the American
National standards for portable pipe threading machines (ANSI
B208-1-1982).
Elements essential
to an acceptable safe operating procedure include at a minimum the
following:
1. Installation of a pressure activated switch (foot pedal) to control the
power input to the
machine. This device would automatically stop the machine and its rotating
parts if the operators
foot was removed from the pedal.
2. Provide training and education to the machine operators concerning all
appropriate procedures
for the safe operation of this type of equipment.