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

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.: On or about October 17, 2024, at a facility located at 1101 Mill Street in Niagara, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect Plant Operator employees from the rotating parts of the Generators. a) At the #5 Generator, employees were exposed to the rotating Rotor from the aisleway north of the Rotor. A standard guardrail present along the aisleway did not prevent employees from contacting the rotating part. The outer edge of the guardrail was at most 34 inches from the struck-by and entanglement hazards present by the Rotor. The guardrail contained a swing-gate which was not locked, secured, or interlocked and allowed access to the Rotor from its north and south sides. b) At #4 Generator, employees were exposed to the rotating Rotor on the south side of the Rotor. The standard guardrail around the generator contained a swing gate which was not locked, secured or interlocked and allowed access to the south side of the Rotor. Employees accessing this area were not protected from the struck-by and entanglement hazards presented by the Rotor.