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

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 condition(s) listed below: 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 condition(s) listed below: Associated Cotton Growers, 1 Mile N. Hwy. 651, Crosbyton, Texas; For the period of time up to and including November 17, 2006, employees were exposed to electrical hazards. a) The electrical panel box for the Curtis Challenge Compressor did not have a cover. b) The electrical panel box for the compressor did not have a cover. c) The breaker box for the lights did not have a cover. d) The junction box located on the Curtis Challenge Compressor had an unused opening e) The conduit was not connected to the junction box exposing employees to wires not insulated. Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 547.6 states "Switches, including pushbuttons, relays, and similar devices, receptacles, circuit breakers, controllers, and fuses shall be provided with enclosures as specified in 547.5(C)." Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 547.5(c)(1) states " Equipment enclosures, boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings installed in areas of buildings where excessive dust may be present shall be designed to minimize the entrance of dust and shall not have openings (such as holes for attachment screws) through which dust could enter the enclosure. Under the Nation electric code (NEC 2005), Article 547.5(E) states "All electrical wiring and equipment subject to physical damage shall be protected. One feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to ensure that all electrical equipment is installed, maintained in accordance with Articles 547 and 110 0f the National Electric Code. Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required for this item.