OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN OHIO MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

Feb 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.   a) On or about September 20, 2023 in the laundry service department, the employer's lockout procedure for cleaning the Chicago XXL Folder was not utilized when removing a guard to clean the belts, exposing employees to an ingoing nip point.

Issued

Feb 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4) Energy control procedure. (ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following: (B) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy; (D) Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.  a) On or about September 20, 2023, in the laundry service department, the employer did not provide specific procedural steps to lockout the electrical energy for the Chicago XXL Folder in that the lockout procedure showed that the employees were to lockout the electrical energy at an electrical breaker located in a panel box; however, during the inspection the electrical energy for the Folder was locked out at a Siemens enclosure box with an electrical switch.   b) On or about September 20, 2023, in the laundry service department, the employer did not provide specific procedures for verifying the isolation of the electrical energy on the Chicago XXL Folder in that the employees were instructed to either use any button on the machine to verify lockout or use a multi-meter.  Three of the buttons were emergency stops which would not verify that the energy was isolated by the lockout device and the procedure did not indicate where to use the multi-meter.

Issued

Feb 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6) Periodic inspection. (i)(C): Where lockout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.   a) On or about September 20, 2023 in the laundry service department, the employer's inspector did not perform a review of the lockout procedure for the Chicago XXL Folder with each authorized employee during the periodic inspection to occur at least annually, and the lockout procedure had not been updated after the installation of the Siemens electrical enclosure with an exterior disconnect switch.

Issued

Feb 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7) Training and communication. (i) The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following: (A) Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.    a) On or about September 20, 2023 in the laundry service department, the lockout training was inadequate in that authorized maintenance employees were not trained on the lockout procedure for the Chicago XXL Folder.

Issued

Feb 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence: (1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. (2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. (3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s). (4) Lockout or tagout device application. (i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (5) Stored energy. (i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe. (6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.   a) On or about September 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that (d)(1) thru (d)(6) were being followed by each authorized laundry technician performing cleaning operations on the Chicago XXL Folder roller belts, exposing employees to ingoing nip point at the belts and rollers.