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:the hazard of being pulled into and crushed by the rotating parts of a pipe threading machine: a)On or about 07/19/95, in the basement, An employee was operating a Collins portable electric pipe threader which was operated by a toggle switch that would not automatically shut off, if it's operator was inadvertently caught in the rotating parts. Abatement Note: Among other methods one feasible method to reduce this hazard is to establish and enforce safe operating procedures. Procedures such as those stipulated in American National Standards for portable pipe threading machines(ANSI B208-1-1982). Elements essential to an acceptable safe operating procedure include at a minimum. (1) Installation of a momentary contact device(foot pedal) to control power input to the machine. This device would automatically stop the machine and its rotating parts if the operators foot was removed from the pedal. (2) Provide training and education to the machine operators concerning all appropriate procedures for safe operation and use of this type of machinery.