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

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 the hazards of oxygen deficient and/or toxic atmosphere by entering confined spaces without observing adequate safe entry procedures: PLANTWIDE: THE EMPLOYER DID NOT DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ADEQUATE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER A FURNACE SERVICE PIT AND TO ENTER THE FIRE BOXES OF 21 HEAT TREATING MACHINES. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO DEVELOP STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR SAFE ENTRY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 1) ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE BY PERMIT ONLY. 2) THE PERMIT SHALL CARRY THE DATE OF ENTRY AND THE AUTHORIZED DURATION OF ENTRY. 3) THE PERMIT SHALL BE SPECIFIC FOR THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE PERMIT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: A) LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF WORK TO BE DONE B) HAZARDS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED C) MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO CONTROL POTENTIAL HAZARDS D) COMPLETE ISOLATION CHECK LIST E) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS RESPIRATORS, CLOTHING, RETRIEVAL LINES AND HARNESSES F) ATMOSPHERIC TESTING EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURES AND READINGS G) ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS H) PERSONNEL TRAINING I) AUTHORIZED AND TRAINED ENTRANTS AND STANDBY PERSONNEL J) COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES K) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND LOCATION OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT 4) PERSONNEL SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY HARNESSES, SAFETY LINES AND/OR OTHER EQUIVALENT RETRIEVAL GEAR TO RESCUE PERSONS FROM HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES. 5) A STANDBY PERSON WITH SUITABLE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS SHALL BE AT THE NEAREST FRESH AIR BASE FOR EMERGENCY RESCUE. COMMUNICATIONS SHALL BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN ALL PERSONS PRESENT. 6) ENTRY INTO THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE PROHIBITED UNTIL INITIAL TESTING OF THE ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN DONE FROM THE OUTSIDE FOR: A) OXYGEN LEVEL B) TOXIC SUBSTANCE LEVELS 7) ALL ENTRANCES TO THE CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE POSTED. SIGNS SHALL INCLUDE: DANGER CONFINED SPACE ENTRY BY PERMIT ONLY 8) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INCLUDING PHONE NUMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SHALL BE POSTED CONSPICUOUSLY WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE AREAS OF THE CONFINED SPACES, OR AT THE TELEPHONE FROM WHICH HELP WOULD BE SUMMONED. 9) EMPLOYEES SHALL REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR SAFE ENTRY AND EMERGENCY EXIT BEFORE ENTERING THE CONFINED SPACES. GUIDELINES SHALL ADDRESS: A) PURGING AND VENTILATION B) ISOLATION/LOCKOUT/TAGOUT C) GAS SOURCE DISCONNECTION D) CLEANING E) EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS REQUIRED