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

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 amputation hazards: a) On or about 10/24/07, in the metal shop at the 60-90 ton Chicago Press Brake (Model 1012-L), the point of operation was not guarded by location by the stock being bent, nor by any other type of point of operation devices, and the two-person operation of this press brake did not provide for concurrent operation of each station to cycle the machine. The operator and helper work together to hold and manipulate sheet stock to put an approximate 3/4" bend on the edge of the sheet. The operator's and helper's hand(s) are less than 6 inches from the point of operation when placing the sheet and the press brake is operated with a single foot pedal by the operator. ANSI B11.3, Power Press Brakes, Section 4.4, Special Purpose mechanical press brake, requires concurrent operation of each operators station to place the ram in motion. One feasible and acceptable method, among others, to correct this hazard is to provide a foot switch for each operator that would require concurrent operation for the press brake to cycle, and to install a point of operation device such as a presence sensing device, pullbacks, restraints or a fixed barrier guard. ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED