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

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 finger amputation hazards as a result of operating a press brake without establishment, training, and monitoring of safety rules and practices regarding proper hand placement when making bends and proper installation of dies/die holders: (a)Bay 5; On or about 05/05/10, an operator of the Amada HDS1303NT press brake (S/N 13303671) suffered amputations to the little and ring fingers of the right hand while bending a tempered abrasion resistent steel piece part. The employee's right hand was located between the top edge of the piece part and the frame of the press brake. A failure of the lower die bolts due to improper set-up of die blocks and die holders resulted in the part shifting suddenly forward toward the machine housing of the press brake. The employer had not established a work rule to prohibit placement of the hands in such a position during bends, had not trained employees on proper hand placement during bending, and had failed to ensure that dies/die holders were being installed according to accepted industry practices. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI) STANDARD B11.3-1982 STANDARD FOR MACHINE TOOLS - POWER PRESS BRAKES - SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION, CARE, AND USE, SECTION 6.1.2 "TRAINING: IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EMPLOYER TO EXERCISE CARE IN THE SELECTION OF EMPLOYEES, TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES IN THE CARE, SETUP, AND USE OF POWER PRESS BRAKES IN INDIVIDUAL PIECE-PART BENDING OPERATIONS [INCLUDING] THE HAZARDS AND DANGERS WHICH ARE RELATED TO EACH SPECIFIC PIECE-PART BENDING OPERATION" AND SECTION 6.1.3 "ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY: IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EMPLOYER TO ESTABLISH, MONITOR, AND ENFORCE APPROPRIATE RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION OF POWER PRESS BRAKE OPERATING PROCEDURES; FOR EXAMPLE, TO RECOGNIZE IF AN OPERATOR HAZARD EXISTS ON ANY PARTICULAR PIECE-PART OPERATION OR TOOLING AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION; AND TO MONITOR AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE POWER PRESS BRAKE AND ALL ITEMS RELATED TO THE PIECE-PART OPERATION ARE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND ARE NOT BEING MISUSED". Abatement certification and documentation are required.