OSHA Inspection: SLOCUM FIRE PROTECTION INC.

Issued

Sep 18, 1991

Abate by

Sep 21, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $400 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 being pulled into and crushed by the rotating
parts of a pipe threading machine:
a)   2514 West State Street Project, West Side of Building, On or
about 6/3/91 - an employee was operating a Ridgid 300 Portable
Pipe Threading Machine which was activated by a toggle switch
that would not automatically shut off if its operator was
inadvertently caught up in its rotating parts.
ABATEMENT NOTES:
Among other methods, one feasible method to reduce this hazard is to
establish and enforce adequate safet operating procedures.  Procedures
such as those stipulated in American National Standard for Portable
Pipe Threading Machines (ANSI B208.1-1982).  Elements essential to an
acceptable safe operating procedure include at a minimum:
1)   Installation of a momentary contact device (deadman foot
switch) to control power input to the machine.  This device
would automatically stop the machine and the rotating pipe if
the operator's foot was removed from the foot switch for any
reason.
2)   Provide training and education to the machine operators con-
cerning all the appropriate procedures for the safe operation
and use of this type of machinery.