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

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 case death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to crushing injuries, broken bones, amputations, and death by adjusting stops on five (5) hot molding presses while positioned under the raised lower dies. When pneumatic pressure was released to separate the dies, the lower dies were supported only with random lengths of lumber, which were not secured against displacement, to prevent the lower die from falling on employees: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to: 1) Provide and ensure the use of properly constructed metal beams, stands, or similar devices of sufficient strength to support the weight of the lower dies. Such devices should be of correct length, affixed to the press for which it is designed, and when is use, secured against displacement; 2) Instruct all maintenance and production employees who are, or potentially are, expose to this hazard in the use of the correct support devices, the procedures for safely placing and removing the devices, and the methods and procedures for performing adjustments or repairs while the dies are so supported. 3) Explore alternative and/or redundant means of supporting the dies, including, but not limited to, the provision of residual air pressure in the pneumatic system to impede or prevent free-fall of the dies in the event the support devices become dislodged. Such air pressure shall not be relied upon as the exclusive means of protection.