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 cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: a) The accident prevention program initiated and maintained by Mid-America Millwright Service, Inc. was inadequate in that the energy control procedures and employee training did not ensure that equipment was isolated and rendered inoperative to prevent unexpected start up. On or about June 10, 1996, MidAmerica Millwright Service, Inc. employee(s) working at Ox Town Cattle Feeders Inc. were exposed to crushing injuries while performing work on the feed mill elevator leg conveyor belt and pulley in that employee(s) did not implement adequate energy control procedures to prevent the unexpected start up of the belt and pulley. The employer had not developed and documented procedural steps specific to that type of equipment for control of the hazardous energy. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to develop and implement an energy control program that adequately addresses energy control procedures and employee training. IN THE ALTERNATIVE 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated,and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): a) The energy control program established by Mid-America Millwright Service, Inc. was inadequate in that the energy control procedures and employee training did not ensure that equipment was isolated and rendered inoperative to prevent unexpected start up. On or about June 10, 1996, Mid-America Millwright Service, Inc. employee(s) working at Ox Town Cattle Feeders Inc. were exposed to crushing injuries while performing work on the feed mill elevator leg conveyor belt and pulley in that employee(s) did not implement adequate energy control procedures to prevent the unexpected start up of the belt and pulley. The employer had not developed and documented procedural steps specific to that type of equipment for control of the hazardous energy.