Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CONFINED

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: a) Employees were exposed to the hazard of entering confined spaces of the solvent exractor for cleaning screens, replacing screens or making repairs. Employees are exposed to potential hazards of oxygen deficiency, toxi atmospheres, explosions and flamability. A feasible and useful method to correct this hazard, among other methods is the implementation of a confined space entry procedure which as a minimum consists of the following: 1) Establish a written confined space entry permit procedure. 2) Implement a lockout, tagout or blanking procedure to prevent accidental start up or entry of hexane into the extractor while employees are present. 3) Sufficiently ventilate the extractor of hexane vapor prior to employees entering the extractor. 4) Conduct air sampling to ensure that employees entering the extractor are not exposed to hazardous concentrations of hexane. 5) Provide a trained observer equipped with appropriate emergency and rescue equipment including a self contained breathing apparatus. 6) Provide training to all employees exposed to the hazards of entering the extractor. Training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to be following: a) requirement of an extractor entry permit b) lockout, tagout or blanking procedure c) extractor ventilation d) atmospheric testing e) emergency and rescue procedures