Safety Tidbit #49 – NEP on Amputations

Safety Tidbit #49 – NEP on Amputations

In 2015 there were 2644 amputations in the workplace (Year One of OSHA’s Severe Injury Reporting Program: An Impact Evaluation).  Last year OSHA revised its National Emphasis Program on Amputations. Within Section D of the emphasis program, Inspection Procedures, OSHA is very specific about telling the compliance officers how to begin their inspections.

To begin with, at the opening conference, the CSHO must verify with the employer if they have any of machinery and equipment in Appendix A of the NEP. However, more broadly, the CSHO is also directed to verify if there are any other machinery and equipment that could cause amputations present in the workplace. Further, if there are any machinery and equipment associated with amputations, the CSHO is to exercise professional judgment in conducting an inspection of the machinery and equipment with particular attention to employee exposure to nip points, pinch points, shear points, cutting actions, and other point(s) of operation.

The CSHO should consider and evaluate employee exposures during any of the following:

ü  Regular operation of the machine;

ü  Setup/threading/preparation for regular operation of the machine;

ü  Clearing jams or upset conditions;

ü  Making running adjustments while the machine is operating;

ü  Cleaning of the machine;

ü  Oiling or greasing of the machine or machine pans;

ü  Scheduled/unscheduled maintenance; and

ü  Locking out or tagging out.

As consultants and safety professionals in the field, we need to vigilantly look for amputation hazards in the workplaces we visit. However, we also must take the time to train all employees to recognize what a nip, pinch or shear point looks like. And they need to understand what work activity takes them and their fellow workers into or near these points of operation exposing themselves or their fellow employee to the amputation hazard. Specifically, when there is a guard present we need to ask when does that guard come off? And subsequently, is there any chance for a worker to come into contact with the hazard when the guard is off?

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits ~ Bryan