Occupational Safety and Health
A. Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
The Power Hacksaw is consists of a base, a mechanism for causing the saw frame to reciprocate, and a clamping vise for holding the stock while it is being sawed (Global Security, n.d., p. 7).
High-speed tungsten and high-speed molybdenum steel saw blades, commonly used on the power hacksaw, are usually hardened completely (Krar, Gill & Smid, 2003, p. 13-3). Care is very important in the process of replacing the blade of power hacksaw machine in order to make sure that it will go the right way, and will ensure safety.
Task/Step
Hazards
Control Measures
1. Loosen the blade tensioning screw and Move the adjustable pulley wheel forward slightly
§ Broken blade that can injure and hurt the operator of the machine.
§ Inhaling the diethanolamine cutting fluid, that can cause respiratory illness.
§Correct tensioning of blade.
§Eye protection must be worn.
§Gas mask must be worn all the time.
2. Mount the new saw band over the two pulleys. Place the saw blade between the rollers of the guide brackets
§ Improper handling of the blade that might hurt the operator.
§ Inhaling the diethanolamine cutting fluid, that can cause respiratory illness.
§ Make sure that the saw teeth are pointing in the direction of the saw travel.
§ Eye protection must be worn.
§ Gas mask must be worn all the time.
3. Tighten the blade tension handle only enough to hold the blade on the pulleys.
§ Broken blade that can injure and hurt the operator of the machine.
§ Inhaling the diethanolamine cutting fluid, that can cause respiratory illness.
§ Correct tensioning of blade.
§ Eye protection must be worn.
§ Gas mask must be worn all the
4. Start and quickly stop the machine in order to make the saw blade revolve a turn or two. This will seat the blade on the pulleys. Tighten the blade tension handle to the manufacturer’s specification.
§ Hand and other part of the body can be caught by the blade that can cause huge injury, and can also cause broken blade.
§ Long hair and loose clothing must be secured.
§ All of the jewelry and accessories must be removed.
Must not wear gloves and other bandage.
§ Apron and work coat must not be worn.
§ Gas mask must be worn all the
References
Chapter 12: Steel Worker Tools and Equipment, Global Security, Retrieved October 27, 2008, from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/navy/nrtc/14251_ch12.pdf
Krar, S., Gill, A. & Smid, P. (2003). Machine Tool Technology Basics, Industrial Press Inc.
Marso, S. & Stern, D. (2003). Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
B. Lockout/Tagout Program
a. If you were the OSHA inspector investigating this accident, what questions would you ask about the mill lockout/tagout program?
In investigating the said incident, it will focus mainly on the availability of the emergency stopping device. It is important to ask why the two-shut off button are already disconnected, and why the location of the emergency stop is far-off from the working place. This is very important because it is considered as one of the most basic electrical safety requirements of OSHA: the first one is to ensure that it’s electrically grounded, and it must have an emergency stop device within easy reach of the operator (Drozda, Wick, Benedict, Veilleux & Bakerjian, 1993, p. 18 – 11).
It is also important to focus on the implementation of the lockout/tagout, such as the aspect of the different safety measures that must be considered before the maintenance process and other repairs or clean-up activities. Above all, it is important to question the abilities, skills and knowledge of the employees of the company, particularly the injured employees regarding the different safety measures in connection with the lockout/tagout of the company.
b. How could use of lockout/tagout have prevented this accident?
One of the primary problems of the company is that they had not been able to maintain and monitor their lockout/tagout program. The company had not been able to follow the OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy Lockout/Tagout Title 29 CFR, Part 1910.147, that tackles the practices and procedures that are important in disabling machinery that will prevent the release of hazardous energy while the employee is performing maintenance activities (Alvarez, 2002). If the said standard had been followed, it will lessen the injury of the employee.
In connection to that, the company also failed to provide the lockout devices, procedures in placing them, training the employees as well as the regular monitoring if the procedures are being followed (OSHA Publication, 1995). If the company had been able to follow the basic of lockout/tagout program, they had been able to know the different information and activities that are important in order to ensure their safety during work. In addition to that, training can make the employees more knowledgeable regarding the different aspects that are connected with different machineries and equipment and their safety. The said activity could have prevented the entire incident to happen.
References
Alvarez, M. (March 28, 2002). The Importance of Lockout/Tagout. WorkCare, Orange California. Retrieved October 27, 2008, from http://www.osh.net/articles/archive/osh_basics_2002_march28.htm
Drozda, T., Charles, W., Benedict, J., Veilleux, R. & Bakerjian, R. (1983). Tool and Manufacturing Engineers Handbook: A Reference Book for Manufacturing Engineers, Managers, and Technicians. SME
Safety Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines: General Industry. (1995). OSHA Publication. Mastery Technologies. Retrieved October 27, 2008, from http://www.masterytech.com/free1.htm
C. Fault Tree of the Causal Relationship of Accident X
Fault tree analysis is a technique that is used in order to trace back through the chronological progression of different causes and effects that have contributed to a given event, whether it is an accident or industrial safety or failure or system safety. The fault-tree is a logic diagram that is based on the principle of the multi-causality that focuses on the different processes that traces all the branches of the events that could contribute to a specific accident or failure (Ridley & Channing, 2003, p. 243).
The image above shows the causal relationship of A, B, C, D, E to X. It shows that all of them are independent conditions that can contribute to the cause of the event X. The blue line shows that the combination of B and D, and the pink line shows that the combination of C and D can contribute to the cause of the event X. In addition, the yellow line shows that the combination of B and E, and the green line shows that the combination of C and E can also contribute to the cause of the event X.
On the other hand, A is considered as independent, when compare to other conditions. The fault trees show that it can directly contribute with the cause of the event X. The condition A, together with all the relationship of A, B, C, D and E, are all connected or can influence the causes of the accident or event X.
References
Fault Tree Analysis. Texas Development of Insurance. Retrieved October 27, 2008, from http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/pubs/videoresource/stpfaulttree.pdf.
Ridley, J. & Channing, J. (2003). Safety at Work. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Vincoli, J. (1994). Basic Guide to Accident Investigation and Loss Control. John Wiley and Sons.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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