Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard: CRUSHING

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 crushing injuries from unintended ram movement as the press was modified by employer and was done so in such a manner that the modifications were not in compliance with set safety standards for such presses: The alleged violations below have been grouped because they involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for injury resulting from an accident. a) Press Area - Employer modified the control circuitry of the Baldwin 200 ton press in such a way that the resulting operation of the press was not in accordance with safety requirements outlined in Section 5 of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B11.16 Metal Powder Compacting Presses - Safety Requiremenets for Construction, Care, and Use. 1. The two-hand control safeguarding device was by-passed. 2. The "inch" operating mode was used as a production mode. 3. Selection switch on the control panel not operative. 4. Electrical clutch and brake control circuits did not incorporate featrues to prevent a unintended stroke in the event of a failure of a control componenet to function properly. Press was last used on or about February 21, 1992. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to abate this hazard is to modify the Baldwin press so as to enter into compliance with Section 5 of ANSI B11.1-1988.