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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: Plant %% Production Area. The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likley to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: a) Inadvertant activation of the "Dry Pole" Thermo Former Machine's "clamping" frame, while the operator was drilling or clearing holes in the vacuum platten and/or molds, located in the point of operation area of the machine, which could cause serious injuries, on or about 4/27/88. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce and adequate plant lockout procedure such as stipulated by ANSI. 1-1982, Section 4 & 5 American Standad of minimum safety requirements for lockout/tagout of energy sources for personnel protection. Essential elements of the lockout procedure would include: 1) Open and lockout the main power disconnect for the machine and bleed off any residual energy: 2) Provide each potentially exposed employee working in the area with separate lock and key to be placed on the lockout means; 3) Establish a written lockout policy, including procedure to be followed and training for all affected employees, both maintenance and operational crews; 4) Periodically evaluate the program and strickly enforce all of its provisions.