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

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of 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 exposed to machine parts falling from above: a) Facility--The company's policy for tightening nuts on the dryer can covers on paper machine #19, developed following dryer can covers falling off of the dryer on April 22, 2011, were not being followed on August 21, 2012, when a dryer can cover fell to the basement under machine #19 striking an employee on his head. Abatement Note: One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is to follow the policy which was developed to use a torque wrench and torque the nuts on the dryer can cover nuts to the torque recommended by the manufacturer. b) Facility--A metal pipe, approximately 4 feet in length, is routinely attached to a ratchet wrench, approximately 18 inches in length, for leverage when maintenance employees are tightening the nuts on the dryer can covers on paper machine #19. Abatement Note: One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is to obtain a torque wrench of sufficient length that the leverage on the wrench is sufficient to torque the nuts on the dryer can covers to the torque recommended by the manufacturer.