This month, IN-OSHA issued citations to a “service contractor” for $99,250 after one of their service technicians entered a roll-off trash compactor to perform equipment repair, replacing a hydraulic pump and a directional valve on the Marathon Trash Compactor. The plant was NOT cited, and the contractor company involved in the repairs received ten citations, one (1) Serious) and nine (9) Willful/Knowing. Here is a breakdown of the citations:
1910.147(f)(2)(i) – When outside servicing personnel were engaged in activities in a facility, the onsite employer and the outside employer did not inform each other of their respective lockout or tag-out procedures. On February 6th, 2013, Service Technicians repaired equipment on a Marathon Trash Compactor located on-site at World Media Group, outside of Bay 2. Employees did not inform World Media Group of their lockout tagout procedures. (SERIOUS; $1,250.00)
1910.146(c)(1) – The service technician employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit required confined spaces. On February 6th, 2013 a Service Technician entered a permit required confined space to perform services, such as but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump and a directional valve on the Marathon Trash Compactor. Prior to the entry of this equipment and other equipment, the employer did not evaluate to determine if the workplace had permit required confined spaces. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $49,000)
1910.146(c)(4) – The service technician employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program. On February 6th, 2013 a Service Technician entered a permit required confined space to perform services such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. Prior to the entry of this and other equipment, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(c)(4)(i) – Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when service technician employees were engaged in activities covered by this section. On February 6th, 2013 Service Technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. The employer did not document or enforce energy control procedures, which exposed Service Technicians to hazards such as, but not limited to, crushing hazards created by the container’s ram. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $49,000)
1910.147(c)(6)(i) – The service technician employer did not conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard were being followed. On February 6th, 2013 Service Technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. The employer did not conduct annual periodic inspections to ensure that the energy control procedure and the OSHA standard were being followed. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(c)(6)(ii) – The service technician employer did not certify that the periodic inspections had been performed. There was not a certification that identified the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection. On February 6th, 2013 Service technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. The employer did not certify that periodic inspections of the energy control procedure were completed. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(c)(7)(i) – The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program were understood by employees and that the knowledge and skill required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls were acquired by employees. On February 6th, 2013 Service technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but riot limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve on the Marathon Trash Compactor. The service technician employer did not provide effective training, on energy control, to it’s employee’s to ensure they were able to safely apply, use and remove energy controls, to protect them from crushing hazards created by the container’s ram. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(c)(8) – Lockout or tagout was not performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance. On February 6th, 2013 Service Technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve on the Marathon Trash Compactor. The trash compactor was not locked out for the duration of these activities. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(d)(6) – Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and de-engergization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished. On February 6th, 2013, Service Technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
1910.147(f)(l)(ii) – During testing or positioning of machines, equipment or components thereof. In situations in which lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolating device and the machine or equipment energized to test or position the machine, equipment or component thereof, employees were not removed from the machine. On February 6th, 2013, Service Technicians performed equipment repair activities such as, but not limited to, replacing a hydraulic pump, and a directional valve, to the power unit of a Marathon Trash Compactor. Testing or positioning of machines required temporary removal of the lockout devices at which time employee(s) were not removed from the machine exposing them to crushing hazards. (WILLFUL/KNOWING; $0)
CLICK HERE to see the actual citations.
