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

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: rotating parts of a pipe threading machine. (a) 9 X 9 Assembly Area - A Ridgid brand power threading machine / pipe threader, model #400A, was activated by the use of a toggle switch that cannot automatically shut off. Employee(s) were exposed to the hazard of inadvertently getting caught in the rotating parts; On or about 11/06/97. ABATEMENT NOTES: Among other methods, one feasible method to reduce this hazard, is to establish and enforce adequate safe operating procedures. Procedures such as those found in the operator's manual. Elements essential to an acceptable safe operating procedure include at a minimum: 1. Installation and use of a momentary contact device (deadman foot switch) to control power input to the machine as recommended by the Ridgid Tool Company foot switch policy, dated July 1, 1996. This device would automatically stop the machine and the rotating pipe, if the operator's foot was removed from the foot switch for any reason. 2. Provide training and education to the machine operators concerning all the appropriate procedures for the safe operation and use of this type of machinery, including the use of the foot switch. ABATEMENT VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED AS OUTLINED IN PART 29 CFR 1903.19D