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: ...the hazard of being caught between the closing framework. The employer did not provide employees involved with the mold changing process in the forming area a lock-out/tag-out procedure to protect employees from being crushed while working within the machines framework. This machine closes up during operation which could trap the employee working withing the framework. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce an adequate plant lockout procedure such as that stipulated by ANSI Z24.1-1982, Section 4 and 5, American National Standard of Minimum Safety Requirements for Lockout/Tagout of Energy Sources for Personnel Protection. Essential elements of the lockout procedure would include: 1) Analyze all machines and determine the thermal, electrical, mechanical, and nip points hazards which are present. Establish and document the procedures which will be used in performing maintenance and operation of machines. 2) At the start of work, switch off and use a worker individual lock on the electric control swith to prevent re-energizing the machine. After switch off, assure that the electric circuits are proven de- energized, a unique and situation information tag shall be attached to the lock and machine energizing control. This lock provision shall not be required where the worker by his immediate proximity to the electrical control switch (within reach) prevents inadvertent switch on by others. 3) All other fluid energy power sources which can produce movements of machine members shall be locked off. Pressurized fluids (air of liquid) shall be closed off from the machine through the use of shut off valves, and the supply lines toward the machines reduced in pressure to atmosphere of the machine blocked against possible movement. All pressure-fluid accumulators and air surge tanks within the machine shall be reduced to atmospheric pressure or the machine blocked against possible movement. All machine temperature and pressure sensors and gauges shall be maintained to always provide an accurate status reading of the machine. 4) All mechanical gravity fall potential energy within the machine shall be reduced to zero, or as nearly so as possible, by lowering elevated machine parts to the floor, solid surface or by cribbing and blocking htem to prevent the machine parts from falling. 5) All mechanical kinetic rotating machine energy within the machine shall be reduced to zero, or as nearly as possible, by slowing the rotating parts to a stop. In the alternate the worker shall be guarded from the rotating parts by installing temporary guards. Loose machine parts including machine parts, arms, knives, etc. shall be blocked or secured to prevent possible injury to workers. 6) Establish written porcedures designed to instruct and train employees in recognition of hazards and proper safe shutdown of machines. Disclaimers: a) The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA. b) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. c) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an effective abatement method.