Answer to Safety Violations Revealed
Remember the picture with the 17 OSHA violations that ran in
the June 18 edition of The NEWS? The article was titled
“Exploring the Financial Ramifications of Safety.”
We asked readers if they could identify all 17 violations (listed below), which were provided by Benjamin Mangan, president and founder of Mancomm and American Safety Training, Inc. (www.mancomm.com). Some listed violations that were not part of the 17 answers but were just plain common sense violations. How did you score?
The winning entry came from Lisa Isaac of Modern Heating Co., Beach Park, Ill. She will receive a set of OSHA manuals, compliments of MANCOMM and American Safety Training Inc. and a free three-year subscription to The NEWS.
1. Radio on the counter is plugged in via an extension cord. 1910.305(g)(1)(iii)[A]: Flexible cords and cables may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.
2. The radio’s extension cord is stapled to the counter. 1910.305(g)(1)(iii)[D]: Flexible cords and cables may not be used where attached to building surfaces.
3. Spilled coffee on the uncarpeted floor. 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
4. Most of exit sign and part of door are obscured by a HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner. 1910.37(b)(3): Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the exit route door.
5. Birthday cake on a plate on the counter, next to an open
jar of paint thinner. 1910.141(G)(2): Eating and drinking areas. No employee
shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area
exposed to a toxic material.
6. An employee is standing in the bathroom eating a sandwich. 1910.141(G)(2): Eating and drinking areas. No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.
7. Open door of bathroom shows it is a mess. 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.
8. Cockroaches on the counter near the birthday cake. 1910.141(a)(5): Vermin control. Every enclosed workplace shall be so constructed, equipped, and maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, as to prevent the entrance or harborage of rodents, insects, and other vermin. A continuing and effective extermination program shall be instituted where their presence is detected.
9. A ladder is propped in front of a partially open door. 1910.25(d)(2)(iv): Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors opening toward the ladder unless the door is blocked upon, locked, or guarded.
10. Fire extinguisher is on the floor instead of in its designated place. 1910.157(c)(4): The employer shall ensure that portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times except during use.
11. Table with birthday presents is blocking the emergency exit. 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed.
12. The jar of paint thinner does not have a label on it and it has been left untended. 1910.1200(f)(5) states that: “Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(6) and (f)(7) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the following information:” – that information being the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) and any physical and health hazards. 1910.1200(f)(7) then states:
“The employer is not required to label portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers, and which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer.” In this case, the open jar of unlabeled paint thinner has been left untended - it is not being used by an employee.
13. The far EXIT sign is broken and hanging down.
1910.37(b)(2): Each exit must be clearly visible and marked by a sign reading
“Exit.”
14. The passageway by the counter has an electric cord hung across it. 1910.22(b)(1) states that “Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.”
15. Wiring is exposed below the hanging plant. Water could drip down from the plant. 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles may have no live parts normally exposed to employee contact. However, rosettes and cleat-type lampholders and receptacles located at least 8 feet above the floor may have exposed parts.
In August 2007, this will change. 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles may have no live parts normally exposed to employee contact. However, rosettes and cleat-type lampholders and receptacles located at least 2.44 m (8.0 ft) above the floor may have exposed terminals.
1910.305(j)(2)(ii): A receptacle installed in a wet or damp location shall be suitable for the location. In August 2007, 1910.305(j)(2)(ii) will become 1910.305(j)(2)(iv).
16. The can of paint thinner should not have been left out on the counter. 1910.106(d)(5)(iii) concerns the storage of flammable and combustible liquids inside the building: Office occupancies. Storage shall be prohibited except that which is required for maintenance and operation of building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public.
17. Two plugs are plugged into the same extension cord on the front of the counter. The equipment that is plugged in has to be grounded or double-insulated. 1910.304(f)(5)(v): Equipment connected by cord and plug. Under any of the conditions described in paragraphs (f)(5)(v)[A] through (f)(5)(v)[C] of this section, exposed non-current-carrying metal parts of cord – and plug-connected equipment which may become energized shall be grounded.
1910.304(f)(5)(v): Tools likely to be used in wet and conductive locations need not be grounded if supplied through an isolating transformer with an ungrounded secondary of not over 50 volts. Listed or labeled portable tools and appliances protected by an approved system of double insulation, or its equivalent, need not be grounded. If such a system is employed, the equipment shall be distinctively marked to indicate that the tool or appliance utilizes an approved system of double insulation.
August 2007: 1910.304(g)(4)(vii): Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (g)(6)(vi) of this section, the following equipment need not be grounded: (B) Listed or labeled portable tools and appliances if protected by an approved system of double insulation, or its equivalent, and distinctively marked.
Publication date: 08/06/2007
We asked readers if they could identify all 17 violations (listed below), which were provided by Benjamin Mangan, president and founder of Mancomm and American Safety Training, Inc. (www.mancomm.com). Some listed violations that were not part of the 17 answers but were just plain common sense violations. How did you score?
The winning entry came from Lisa Isaac of Modern Heating Co., Beach Park, Ill. She will receive a set of OSHA manuals, compliments of MANCOMM and American Safety Training Inc. and a free three-year subscription to The NEWS.
ANSWERS
The violations are given along with the regulation numbers that address them. Note that some are dated to reflect how the regulations will change in August 2007. “It is wise to make sure you always have the latest regulations on hand,” said Mancomm.1. Radio on the counter is plugged in via an extension cord. 1910.305(g)(1)(iii)[A]: Flexible cords and cables may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.
2. The radio’s extension cord is stapled to the counter. 1910.305(g)(1)(iii)[D]: Flexible cords and cables may not be used where attached to building surfaces.
3. Spilled coffee on the uncarpeted floor. 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
4. Most of exit sign and part of door are obscured by a HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner. 1910.37(b)(3): Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the exit route door.
Lisa Isaac of Modern Heating Co., Beach Park, Ill.,
correctly identified all 17 OSHA safety violations from the above picture which
originally ran in the June 18 edition of The NEWS. Isaac
will be receiving a set of OSHA manuals and a free three-year subscription to
The NEWS.
6. An employee is standing in the bathroom eating a sandwich. 1910.141(G)(2): Eating and drinking areas. No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.
7. Open door of bathroom shows it is a mess. 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.
8. Cockroaches on the counter near the birthday cake. 1910.141(a)(5): Vermin control. Every enclosed workplace shall be so constructed, equipped, and maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, as to prevent the entrance or harborage of rodents, insects, and other vermin. A continuing and effective extermination program shall be instituted where their presence is detected.
9. A ladder is propped in front of a partially open door. 1910.25(d)(2)(iv): Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors opening toward the ladder unless the door is blocked upon, locked, or guarded.
10. Fire extinguisher is on the floor instead of in its designated place. 1910.157(c)(4): The employer shall ensure that portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times except during use.
11. Table with birthday presents is blocking the emergency exit. 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed.
12. The jar of paint thinner does not have a label on it and it has been left untended. 1910.1200(f)(5) states that: “Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(6) and (f)(7) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the following information:” – that information being the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) and any physical and health hazards. 1910.1200(f)(7) then states:
“The employer is not required to label portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers, and which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer.” In this case, the open jar of unlabeled paint thinner has been left untended - it is not being used by an employee.
Mr. Doolittle, America’s “safest worker
14. The passageway by the counter has an electric cord hung across it. 1910.22(b)(1) states that “Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.”
15. Wiring is exposed below the hanging plant. Water could drip down from the plant. 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles may have no live parts normally exposed to employee contact. However, rosettes and cleat-type lampholders and receptacles located at least 8 feet above the floor may have exposed parts.
In August 2007, this will change. 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles may have no live parts normally exposed to employee contact. However, rosettes and cleat-type lampholders and receptacles located at least 2.44 m (8.0 ft) above the floor may have exposed terminals.
1910.305(j)(2)(ii): A receptacle installed in a wet or damp location shall be suitable for the location. In August 2007, 1910.305(j)(2)(ii) will become 1910.305(j)(2)(iv).
16. The can of paint thinner should not have been left out on the counter. 1910.106(d)(5)(iii) concerns the storage of flammable and combustible liquids inside the building: Office occupancies. Storage shall be prohibited except that which is required for maintenance and operation of building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public.
17. Two plugs are plugged into the same extension cord on the front of the counter. The equipment that is plugged in has to be grounded or double-insulated. 1910.304(f)(5)(v): Equipment connected by cord and plug. Under any of the conditions described in paragraphs (f)(5)(v)[A] through (f)(5)(v)[C] of this section, exposed non-current-carrying metal parts of cord – and plug-connected equipment which may become energized shall be grounded.
1910.304(f)(5)(v): Tools likely to be used in wet and conductive locations need not be grounded if supplied through an isolating transformer with an ungrounded secondary of not over 50 volts. Listed or labeled portable tools and appliances protected by an approved system of double insulation, or its equivalent, need not be grounded. If such a system is employed, the equipment shall be distinctively marked to indicate that the tool or appliance utilizes an approved system of double insulation.
August 2007: 1910.304(g)(4)(vii): Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (g)(6)(vi) of this section, the following equipment need not be grounded: (B) Listed or labeled portable tools and appliances if protected by an approved system of double insulation, or its equivalent, and distinctively marked.
Publication date: 08/06/2007
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