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 the hazard of in-going nip points while installing cable on hauling gear drums: a. In the spud room of the Cherokee Dredge Barge, the power to the port side hauling gear was not adequately locked out (the lock placed on the electrical box was not locked), nor were the brake dogs set, prior to an employee crawling up under the drum in order to thread a polyester rope around the drum to another employee to tie to the clamp on the inside of the drum. The employer's lockout procedures required that either the breakers or the control panel for the Spud Hauling Gear motor be locked out and the brake dogs be set. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to develop and implement an effective lockout program (Reference ANSI standard Z244.1-1982, paragrah 5.2.2 which states: "All involved energy isolating devices shall be located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the equipment/process from the energy source(s). The lockout/tagout plan, if developed, shall be followed.") b. In the spud room of the Cherokee Dredge Barge, two employees, while closely monitored by their supervisor, stood at the point of danger of an in-going nip point and rotating part while attempting to install cable on the port side hauling gear drum. The employer's lockout procedures permitted one individual to be within the restricted area while the hauling gear is activated, when the cable is being started onto the drum, to guide the new cable onto the drum. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to modify the lockout procedures for this task to require that the employees step back over the main shaft in the spud room, which creates an effective barrier and removes them from the hazard of in-going nip points and/or rotating parts of the hauling gear drum, during the bumping process. (Reference ANSI Standard Z244.1-1982, paragraph 6.1, Lockout/Tagout Interruption (Testing of Energized Equipment) which states: In situations where the energy isolating device(s) is locked/tagged and there is a need for testing or positioning of the equipment/process, the following sequence shall apply: 1. Clear equipment/process of tools and materials; 2. Clear personnel; 3. Clear the control of locks/tags according to established procedure; 4. Proceed with test, etc.; and 5. De-energize all systems and relock/retag the controls to continue the work.) (Also reference ANSI Standard Z244.1-1982, paragraph 6.7, Work on Energized Equipment, which states: Where work on energized equipment is required, acceptable procedures and equipment shall be employed to provide effective protection to personnel.) If it is determined that an individual must be within the restricted area while the hauling gear is activated, when the cable is being started onto the drum, in order to guide the new cable onto the drum. one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to install a guard on the hauling gear drum to eliminate employee exposure to the in-going nip point.ng