Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer does not furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which is free from the recognized hazards of being struck-by parts expelled from a modified turning chuck on a CNC lathe that is causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This violation was observed at the employer's worksite located at 16601 Central Green Blvd. Suite 300, Houston, TX. on September 1, 2010, where employees operated a Hwacheon Cutex 240 CNC Lathe #3 that had been modified by the employer to operate with a chuck secured chuck without consulting the manufacturer. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method for abatement is to purchase the appropriate work holding device (Chuck) for the plastic billet application that can be mounted directly to the spindle as per ANSI B11.22-2002 Safety Requirements for Turning Centers and Automatic Numerically Controlled Turning Machines, Paragraph 4.1 and 4.2. Disclaimers: 1. You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above. 2. The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. 3. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate method. Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation describing the actions it is taking to establish, communicate, and implement written procedures to ensure that the proper chuck (work holding device) is used for the product being turned.