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) Employees were exposed to the hazard of being overcome in and unable to escape or be rescued from confined space which include but are not limited to char filters, vacuum pans, water and syrup tanks located throughout the sugar refinery in areas such as the Filer, Pan and Finishing House. Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to develop and follow standard procedures for safe confined space entry, including but not limited to: 1) Conduct atmospheric testing of confined spaces, prior to employee entry, for potential oxygen deficiency and air contaminants and continue to monitor for same while employees are working in confined space. 2) Provide purging and ventilation of the confined space. 3) Provide employee entering confined space with wrist type or noose type harness with safety line. 4) Provide for monitor or standby employee to be in attendane at the confined space and so equipped with respiratory protection necessary to conduct a rescue. 5) Institute and enforce the use of confined space entry permit system. 6) Institute labeling and posting of confined space. 7) Ensure that authorized entrants are trained in the following areas: a)Hazard recognition b)Communication c)Protective equipment d)Self-rescue Reference literature on confined space: NIOSH Publication 80-106 (Working in Confined Spaces) ANSI Z117.1 29 CFR 1910.146 ASTM D4276-84 National Safety Council Data Sheet 1-704-85