OSHA Inspection: LITTON AVONDALE INDUSTRIES

Issued

Dec 15, 1999

Abate by

Feb 3, 2000

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,070 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 following condition(s):
a)  Avondale Industries Inc, 5100 River Rd, Avondale LA - WAGB Healey
CGS-20,
Starboard Boiler Room. For the period of time up to and including 13 Aug
99, the
employer did not verify and assure that their Control of Hazardous Energy
program was
effective and understood by all employees at their facility. This
condition exposed
employees to the hazards and injuries related to the sudden and unexpected
release of
energy.
Instances:
a)According to ANSI Z244.1-1982 "American National Standard for personnel
protection-lockout/tagout of energy sources-minimum safety requirements"
paragraph 3.2.2: "PERIODIC INSPECTIONS. It shall be the responsibility of
the
employer to verify, through periodic inspections, the organization's
compliance
with this standard."
The employer did not conduct annual inspections of its lockout/tagout
procedures to
assure the adequacy of the procedures and assure that employees were
competent.
b)According to ANSI Z244.1-1982 "American National Standard for personnel
protection-lockout/tagout of energy sources-minimum safety requirements"
paragraph 3.3.1-3: "3.3.1 ALL EMPLOYEES. All employees shall be
specifically notified of the requirements for compliance with the
employer's
policy and specifically made aware of the lockout/tagout procedure. 3.3.2
AFFECTED EMPLOYEES. The employer shall ensure that each affected
employee is instructed in the purpose and use of the lockout/tagout
procedure.
3.3.3 AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS. All authorized individuals shall receive
training in recognition of the applicable hazardous energy sources and in
adequate
methods and means for their isolation."
The employer did not provide adequate lockout/tagout training/re-training
to employees
that are effected and/or are required to utilize lockout/tagout devices.
Pipefitters were not
trained to lock or tagout operating systems (steam lines) that were being
worked on, but
were to rely on others to lock or tagout the system.
c)According to ANSI Z244.1-1982 "American National Standard for personnel
protection-lockout/tagout of energy sources-minimum safety requirements"
paragraph 5.1.1 NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL. All personnel affected by
the lockout/tagout shall be notified of the lockout/tagout application."
Employees were not notified by supervisory personnel that work was going
to be
performed on a operating system (steam line) prior to the work being
conducted.
d)According to ANSI Z244.1-1982 "American National Standard for personnel
protection-lockout/tagout of energy sources-minimum safety requirements"
paragraph 5.2.4 "VERIFICATION OF ISOLATION. One or both of the
following actions shall be accomplished after lockout/tagout application to
determine if the operation of the energy isolating devices has in fact
produced the
required isolation of the equipment/process. (1) Operate the
equipment/process
operating controls...to determine that the energy isolation has been
effective. (2)
Test the equipment/process by use of appropriate test equipment and/or
visual
inspection to determine that the energy isolation has been effective."
Employees working on a operating system (steam line) did not verify that
the system had
been isolated prior to the work commencing. Employees assumed that the
system (steam
line) had been locked or tagged out do to training provided them.
e)According to ANSI Z244.1-1982 "American National Standard for personnel
protection-lockout/tagout of energy sources-minimum safety requirements"
paragraph 6.5 "COORDINATION (SHIFT/SCHEDULE CHANGE). Provisions
shall be made to ensure the continuity of lockout/tagout protection during
shift or
personnel change. Specific procedures shall be developed for such
situations."
Employees of the two shifts involved did not both lock or tag out the
system (steam line)
to be worked on.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct these
hazards are to:
a)Conduct random annual inspections of the lockout/tagout procedures
throughout
the facility to assure that the procedures are being understood and
followed by
employees and make necessary changes/updates to the procedures.
b)Train all employees in lockout/tagout procedures that may be required to
work
on a system that would have to be locked out.
c)If work is to be performed on a operating system, establish a procedure
that
incorporates a written record of notification between various crafts and
prohibit
verbal notifications.
d)Prior to the commencement of any work on a operating system, physical
verification of the system being isolated must be made.
e)Each crew/shift etc that works on a operating system or has ultimate
control over
that system must apply appropriate isolation devices to assure that the
system
cannot be energized.