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

29 CFR 1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6). a) On or about October 19, 2021, employees were exposed to crushing hazards associated with stored energy while engaged in servicing and maintenance work activities on Loading Dock 13, dock leveler equipment. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to work under a raised dock plate to remove debris from the dock pit and remove the air bag assembly. The hinged dock plate was propped open using a 4x4x48 inches wooden post. The dock plate's stored energy had not been rendered safe prior to the employees engaging in the servicing and maintenance activities. b) On or about October 19, 2021, employees were exposed to potential caught-in hazards associated with performing dock leveler equipment servicing and maintenance work activities from inside the Loading Dock 15 pit. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to work inside the pit and under the raised dock plate to remove debris from the dock pit, remove damaged air bag assembly, and install replacement air bag assembly. The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing/maintenance activity. c) On or about October 25, 2021, an employee was exposed to crushing hazards associated with stored energy while engaged in servicing and maintenance work activities on Loading Dock 13, dock leveler equipment. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to work under a raised dock plate to remove debris from the dock pit and prepare to install the air bag assembly. The hinged dock plate was propped open using a 4x4x48 inches wooden post when the post unexpectedly fell releasing the plate which struck an employee down and against the top surface of the pit's front wall. The dock plate's stored energy had not been rendered safe prior to the employees engaging in the servicing/maintenance activity. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.