OSHA Inspection: UNISTREAM PLASTICS

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1990

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $350

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
crushing hazards due to inadvertent or intentional start up of machinery
while performing maintenance or cleaning operations on plant equipment
such as, but not limited to, the large plastic recycle grinder.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish and enforce an adequate plant
lockout/tagout procedure conisting of, but not limited to, the
following:
1) The development of an energy control program, using locks when
equipment can be locked out.
2) Employment of additional means to ensure safety when tags rather than
locks are used to control energy sources by implementing and
enforcing an effective tagout program.
3) Ensure that new equipment or overhauled equipment can accomodate
locks.
4) Identification and implementation of specific procedures (preferably
in writing) for the control of hazardous energy including preparation
for shutdown, actual shutdown of equipment, isolation of equipment,
lockout/tagout application, release of stored energy, and
verification of isolation.
5) Institution of procedures for release of lockout/tagout including
machine inspection, notification and safe positioning of employees
and removal of the lockout/tagout device.
6) Obtaining standardized locks and tags which indicate the identity of
the employees using them and which are of sufficient quality and
durability to ensure their effectiveness.
7) Conducting inspections of energy control procedures on a frequent
basis.
8) Training of employees in the specific energy procedures with training
reminders as part of the periodic inspections of the control
procedures.
9) Adoption of procedures to ensure safety when equipment must be tested
during servicing: when outside contractors are working at the site;
when a multiple lockout is needed for a crew servicing equipment and
when shifts or personnel change.
The abatement method outlined above is general and the employer, based
on his superior knowledge or working conditions, is responsible for
developing and implementing an abatement method which will be suitably
protective of employee's safety and health.
NOTE: The new OSHA Lockout/Tagout standard went into effect October
31, 1989 and should be followed when developing an abatement program.
However there has been an administrative stay on enforcement until
January 2, 1990.

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $300

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $200

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $200

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1990

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $300

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 21, 1989

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1990

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1990

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Jan 4, 1990

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989

Issued

Nov 16, 1989

Abate by

Nov 22, 1989