Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LOCKOUT

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: a) The hazard of having parts of their bodies crushed or amputated in the event that machines should be re-started during clean-up maintenance operations. On Floor 1, Building 18, where employees responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the Rietz pre-breaker and fat grinder were not aware of any lock-out procedures or the availability of any locks with which to effect lock-out of machines and equipment. Feasible and useful methods of abatement, among other methods, would be to provide the protection of a positive main power lock-out procedure, which would include the following essentials: 1) Open and lock-out main power disconnect for the machine and bleed off any residual energy prior to performing cleaning operations. 2) Provide each potentially exposed employee working in the area with separate lock and key to be placed on the lock-out means. 3) Establish a written lock-out policy, including procedures to be followed and training for all affected employees. 4) Install automatic braking devices which will stop all movement of machinery immediately upon interruption of power to the machine. 5) Install interlock devices which will prevent any access doors from being opened before the machine has come to a complete stop. 6) Periodically evaluate the program and strictly enforce all of its provisions.