Text For Citation: 03 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: ELECTRIC

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: Employees performing maintenance and repair work on such equipment as conveyors, sizers, grading machines, fans for dryers, and electrical equipment were exposed to the hazards of amputations, fractures, severe lacerations, and electrical energization of equipment as equipment was not positively locked out. Abatement of the hazard can be accomplished by the establishment of management controls over the work being performed, instructions of workers in the recognition of hazards, safe shut down of machines, blocking, stopping and reducing machines to Zero Mechanical Energy (ZMS), and documentation of maintenance performed. Specific elements of the abatement program shall be expected to include, but not necessarily be limited to: 1) Secure and maintain current operations and maintenance manuals on all machines to be serviced. Assure provision of appropriate manuals and/ or information contained to affected workers before work is begun. 2) Analyze all machines and determine the electrical, mechanical and nip point hazards which are present. Establish and document the procedure which will be used in performing maintenance of machines. 3) Establish and use a documented work order system for machine maintenance and repairs. Document repairs made, both preventive and breakage, and use the information to improve preventive maintenance, reduce costs, increase on-line time, and reduce worker injuries.