i am required to work alone with an electrical machine in adverse conditions?

Question

is this a violation of some sort of OSHA code?

Answer 1

The answer is based upon what type of machine you are working with. Electricity itself is not hazardous unless in the normal course of your job you are exposed to hazardous energy.

OSHA has specific rules on protecting employees from exposure to energy (Lock Out / Tag Out) so the fact that you are alone is less relevant than the risk of exposure.

OSHA does not require that supervisors or additional employees be present "just in case". However, if it is foreseeable that you would have to adjust or service the machine when you are alone, and those adjustments must be done when the machine is operating the employer should recognize the hazard that action may pose.

The job site should have Job Safety Analysis and SOPs in place for when employees are working alone that would preclude any employee from being exposed to hazardous energy (electrical or mechanical) and the rules would apply equally regardless of the shift.

Answer 2

There's no simple answer, but if the employer is creating a hazardous working environment, then OSHA would be involved. If by its nature, the work is dangerous, that does not mean per se there is a violation, as long as all required precautions are taken.

Answer 3

If you can take a little pain I would stick my hand in there and get shocked just enough so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but not enough so you discover what the light actually is. Then hire a good workers comp attorney and sit back waiting for the money to roll in......lol

Answer 4

You need to contact OSHA and find out. Your employer should have your safety in mind at all times.

Answer 5

yeah and ? i work in rain and snow with overhead power lines
rangeing from 120 volts to 13,200 volts
so get another job and stop whineing or just let the illegal mexican have it