Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard: CAUGHT

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 THE HAZARD OF BEING CAUGHT IN ROTATING PARTS. a)REMELT DEPT., REFRACTORY SHOP, ON OR ABOUT 06-28-96, EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A RIGID 300 PIPE THREADING MACHINE WHICH WAS ACTIVATED BY A TOGGLE SWITCH THAT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THE MACHINE OFF IF THE OPERATOR WAS INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT UP IN ITS ROTATING PARTS. ABATEMENT NOTES: AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE METHOD TO REDUCE THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE ADEQUATE SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES. PROCEDURES SUCH AS THOSE STIPULATED IN THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR PORTABLE PIPE THREADING MACHINES (ANSI B208.1 1982). ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO AN ACCEPTABLE SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM: 1.INSTALL A MOMENTARY FOOT SWITCH. THIS FOOT SWITCH SHALL BE DESIGNED IN THE MANNER OF A "DEADMAN CONTROL" SO THAT WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED THE MACHINE STOPS OPERATION, AND 2.PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO THE MACHINE OPERATORS CONCERNING ALL THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES FOR THE SAFE OPERATION AND USE OF THIS TYPE OF MACHINERY.