Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LOCKOUT

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: a) Employees are exposed to the hazard of suffocation and/or crushing when required to enter open-top raw material storage bins that are approximately 9-1/2 feet deep to clear "bridging-over" conditions or to break-up clumping of material without adequate personal protective measures having been taken. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is in the absence of vibrating equipment that would eliminate employee exposure is to establish and enforce an adequate plant lockout/bin entry procedure which would include but would not be limited to the following essentials: 1) To open and lockout electrical disconnect(s) for belt conveyor immediately under the raw material storage bin(s) at the asphalt plant. 2) Provide each potentially exposed employee working in the raw material storage bin(s) with a separate lock and key to be placed in the lockout device. 3) Assure that a body harness with a lifeline of appropriate length is worn by employee(s) who enter the bin(s) from the top. 4) Assure that an observer, equipped to provide assistance and to prevent further loading of material into bin(s), is stationed outside the bin(s) being entered. 5) Develop and implement written procedures, training concepts and provisions for evaluation for all affected employees.