OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN AIRLINES

Issued

Aug 8, 2003

Abate by

Sep 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 a struck by hazard of an air hose:
a)D Concourse, on or about May 23 and May 26, 2003, employees were exposed
to a
struck by hazard caused by the whipping action of the air hose as they
were attempting
to disconnect the hose from the airplane.  The air hose was still
pressurized (40 psi) due
to the switching of the  main controls to the manual position.  Employees
had no way
of determining that the main controls had been set on the manual mode.
Their controls
were in the automatic mode.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to
ensure that
the controls are synchronized to the same settings.
Another feasible method of abatement is to develop and implement a
procedure for
determining the amount of air pressure in the hose by the possible
installation of an air
pressure gauge.
Another feasible method of abatement is to secure the main control panel
to the system
and limit the access to authorized personnel in addition to the first
and/or second method.
DISCLAIMER
a)The employer is not limited to the abatement method(s) suggested by OSHA.
b) The employer is responsible for selecting and implementing an effective
abatement method.
Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this
violation.  The
documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable
measurements
or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be
helpful.  The
abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citations(s).