OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN HYDRAULICS, INC.

Issued

1997-09-17 00:00:00

Abate by

1997-10-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $4500.00

General-duty citation text

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 recognized hazards associated with
applying heat to a gas charged railcar hydraulic shock absorber.
Among other methods, two feasible and acceptable methods to correct
the hazard are as follows:
1)  Separate the removal of the gas charge and the draining of the
hydraulic oil into 2 jobs performed by two different operators.
This will result in a distinct separation of the oil units from the
oil/gas units, will help eliminate any confusion on gear
identification, and will help ensure that the gas charge has been
removed before any cutting or heating is done on the units.
2)  Develop specific written procedures for the identification of
each type of unit to be remanufactured.  Develop specific written
procedures for draining each type of unit, including specific
instructions on how to remove the gas charge and when to use or not
to use the cutting torch.  Develop a formal training program on the
hazards of using a cutting torch on or near a pressurized unit.
Ensure that the employee is adequately trained on each of these
items before he/she begins work on the drain tank.