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: a) Batch #3 furnace area: On 8/19/85, employees were exposed to an atmosphere containing up to 16% freon 12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) and an oxygen deficiency as low as 16% oxygen in the bottom of the Batch #3 furnace. Compliance was lacking for the following sections of the American National Standards Institute Safety Requirements for Working in Tanks and Other ConfinedSpaces, ANSI Z117.1-1977; section 3.3.1 Ventilation; section 4.2 Oxygen- Deficient Atmospheres; and section 4.4 Toxic Atmospheres. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to prepare a written procedure for confined space entry including; 1) Mandatory ventilation with a blower hose that extends to the bottom bottom of the furnace; and 2) Air sampling for oxygen and air contaminants.