OSHA Inspection: CIANCIO MECHANICAL INC.

Issued

Nov 19, 1998

Abate by

Dec 22, 1998

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $525 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) On or about 10/12/98, on construction site at the Westfield Academy,
Westfield,
NY:  Employee operated a Ridgid model 300, serial # 728815, portable pipe
threading machine which was activated by a 3-way sliding switch that would
not
automatically shut off if the operator was inadvertently caught up in its'
rotating parts.
Among others, a feasible method to eliminate or materially reduce this
hazard is to establish
and enforce safe operating procedures, such as those stipulated in the
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 switch for any
reason.
2)  Provide training and education to the machine operators concerning all
the
appropriate procedures for the safe operation and use of this type of
machinery.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIREDATION