OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN DREDGING CO., INC.

Issued

Sep 7, 2000

Abate by

Sep 25, 2000

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $4,000 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 in-going nip points while installing cable
on hauling gear drums:
a.  In the spud room of the Cherokee Dredge Barge, the power to the port
side hauling gear was
not adequately locked out (the lock placed on the electrical box was not
locked), nor were the
brake dogs set, prior to an employee crawling up under the drum in order
to thread a polyester
rope around the drum to another employee to tie to the clamp on the inside
of the drum.  The
employer's lockout procedures required that either the breakers or the
control panel for the Spud
Hauling Gear motor be locked out and the brake dogs be set.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this
hazard is to develop and implement an effective lockout program (Reference
ANSI
standard Z244.1-1982, paragrah 5.2.2 which states: "All involved energy
isolating
devices shall be located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the
equipment/process from the energy source(s).  The lockout/tagout plan, if
developed,
shall be followed.")
b.  In the spud room of the Cherokee Dredge Barge, two employees, while
closely monitored
by their supervisor, stood at the point of danger of an in-going nip point
and rotating part while
attempting to install cable on the port side hauling gear drum.  The
employer's lockout
procedures permitted one individual to be within the restricted area while
the hauling gear is
activated, when the cable is being started onto the drum, to guide the new
cable onto the drum.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to modify the lockout procedures for this task to require that
the employees step
back over the main shaft in the spud room, which creates an effective
barrier and
removes them from the hazard of in-going nip points and/or rotating parts
of the hauling
gear drum, during the bumping process.  (Reference ANSI Standard
Z244.1-1982,
paragraph 6.1, Lockout/Tagout Interruption (Testing of Energized
Equipment) which
states: In situations where the energy isolating device(s) is
locked/tagged and there is a
need for testing or positioning of the equipment/process, the following
sequence shall
apply: 1. Clear equipment/process of tools and materials; 2. Clear
personnel; 3. Clear
the control of locks/tags according to established procedure; 4. Proceed
with test, etc.;
and 5. De-energize all systems and relock/retag the controls to continue
the work.) (Also
reference ANSI Standard Z244.1-1982, paragraph 6.7, Work on Energized
Equipment,
which states: Where work on energized equipment is required, acceptable
procedures
and
equipment shall be employed to provide effective protection to personnel.)
If it is determined that an individual must be within the restricted area
while the hauling
gear is activated, when the cable is being started onto the drum, in order
to guide the
new cable onto the drum. one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to install a guard on the hauling gear drum to eliminate
employee exposure to
the in-going nip point.ng