Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 103550422
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Date: 02/28/1989 X
Initial Penalty: $640.00
Current Penalty: $640.00
Issuance Date: 11/17/1988
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 2
Related Event Code (REC): A
Gravity: 08
Report ID: 0523400
Contest Date:
Final Order:
Emphasis:
| Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | I: Informal Settlement | 12/06/1988 | $640.00 | 02/28/1989 | Serious | |
| Penalty | Z: Issued | 11/17/1988 | $640.00 | 11/20/1988 | Serious |
Text For Citation: 01 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) Employee was permitted to perform a maintenance function on an energized Thermex preheater, Model 3RA84, serial number Z1160-T resulting in fatal electrical contact on 10-18-88. The contributing factors were evidenced by the following findings: 1) Decedent was a trainee and unqualified to work on "live" electrical equipment exhibiting an "untrained" response to the task at hand. 2) No specific procedures or methodology was developed for lockout/tagout practices. 3) Employee decedent was at ground potential with no protective gloves, insulative floor mats or other isolating equipment was utilized. 4) DC circuit was energized by drawer try in the "in" position with timer "on" in the heating mode. 5) Manufacturers electrical circuit safety interlocks were circumvented by wiring them in the "open" position after protective side panels were removed for access. 6) No danger signs indicating high voltage were on the preheater. FEASIBLE ABATEMENT METHODS 1) Develop safe work practices for de-energizing circuits and equipment to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from direct or indirect electrical contacts when the work is performed near or on equipment circuits which are or may be energized. These practices shall be consistant with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards and developed before the circuits and equipment are de-energized. 2) De-energized live parts to which on employee may be exposed before the employee works on or near them, unless it can be demonstrated that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitiations. In such cases, the procedures for working on energized equipment shall be followed. 3) Disconnect all electric sources from circuits and equipment upon which work is to be performed. Control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches and interlocks, may not be used as the safe means for de-energizing circuits or equipment. Interlocks for electric equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures. 4) Release stored electrical energy in circuits and equipment which might endanger personnel. Capacitors shall be discharged and high capacitance elements shall be short-circuited and grounded. 5) Place a lock and a tag on each disconnecting means used to de- energize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed. They shall be attached so as to prevent persons from operating the disconnecting means unless they resort to undue force or use of tools. The tag shall contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized operations for the disconnecting means and removal of the tag. 6) If a lock cannot be applied, a tag may be used without a lock provided the following additional requirements are met: i) Tags are of a distinctive, employer-standardized, design that clearly prohibits unauthorized energizing of circuits and removal of the tag. ii) Additional safety measures, such as removal of isolating circuit elements, blocking of controlling switches or opening extra disconnecting devices are employed. iii) Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized. iv) The tagout period does not extend beyond the work shift. v) All persons who have access to controlling devices are trained and familiar with the employer's tagging procedures. 7) Qualified person, shall operate the equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted. The qualified person shall use test equipment to test circuit elements and electrical parts to which employees will be exposed and shall verifty that they and equipment parts are de-energized before work is allowed to proceed. The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists.As a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage backfeet even though specific parts of the circuit have been de-energized and presumed to be safe. 8) Before circuits or equipment are re-energized, even temporarily, a qualified person shall conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized. A visual determination shall be made to assure all employees are clear of circuits and equipment before they are energized. 9) Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been de-energized in accordance with items 1 through 8 above. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on energized circuits and shall be familiar with proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials and insulating tools. Safety-related work practices shall be developed which are suitable to the work being performed and for the voltage level of the exposed electric conductors or circuit parts. 10) Employees who may reasonably be expected to face a risk of injury due to electric shock or other electrical hazards shall be trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices that pertain to their respective job assignements. Furthermore, qualified persons, (i.e. those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, in addition to the above training requirements, also be trained in and familiar with the following: i) The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment. ii) The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts. iii) Safety-related work practices used to protect employees against contact with energized circuit parts directly with any part of their body or indirectly through other conductive objects.
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