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 eployees were exposed to the hazards of oxygen deficient or toxic atmosphere by entering confined without observing adequate safe entry procedures: ESTABLISHMENT: ON NOVEMBER 6, 1989, AN EMPLOYEE ENTERED A RETORT CYLINDER TO REMOVE SMALL METAL PARTS THAT HAD FALLEN FROM A BASKET. HE BECAME INCAPACITATED DUE TO AN OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERE WITHIN THE RETORT CAUSED BY THE ARGON INERTING GAS IN USE. THE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE THE RETORT WAS NOT TESTED FOR OXYGEN PRIOR TO ENTRY. FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS INCLUDE: 1) ALTERNATE WORK PRACTICES FOR REMOVING SMALL PARTS THAT MAY FALL INTO THE RETORT WITHOUT EMPLOYEES ENTERING THE RETORT. THESE MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: A) USE OF A LONG HANDLED SCOOP OR NET B) USE OF A VACUUM HOSE 2) THE EMPLOYER SHOULD PERFORM A WORKPLACE SURVEY AND IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS THAT COULD BE CONFINED SPACES. IF THE WORK REQUIRES THAT AN EMPLOYEE ENTER A CONFINED SPACE, THEN STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR CONFINED SPACE ENTRY SHALL BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED. 3) ENTRANCES TO CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE POSTED. THE SIGN SHALL INCLUDE THE WARNING "DANGER, CONFINED SPACE ENTRY BY PERMIT ONLY". 4) THE PERMIT MUST BE DATED AND INCLUDE: A) LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF WORK TO BE DONE B) HAZARDS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED C) MEASURES TO CONTROL POTENTIAL HAZARDS D) COMPLETE ISOLATION CHECKLIST E) PPE, SUCH AS RESPIRATORS, CLOTHING AND RETRIEVAL LINES F) ATMOSPHERIC TESTING EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURES AND READINGS G) ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS H) PERSONNEL TRAINING I) AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS AND STANDBY PERSONNEL J) COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES K) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND LOCATION OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT IT SHOULD BE SIGNED BY THE AUTHORIZER AND POSTED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CONFINED SPACE. 5) A MONITORING PROGRAM TO TEST THE ATMOSPHERE PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE CONFINED SPACE AND ON A REGULAR BASIS DURING OCCUPANCY FOR PRESENCE OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN (19.5%) AND ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF TOXIC OR CUMBUSTIBLE GASES (MAXIMUM 10% OF THE LOWER EXPLOSIVE LEVEL). WHEN TOXIC SUBSTANCES ARE PRESENT FOR WHICH NO EQUIPMENT TO TEST THE ATMOSPHERE ARE AVAILABLE, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE ONLY WITH THE USE OF AIR SUPPLIED RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. MECHANICAL VENTILATION WITH NORMAL AIR MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO MAINTAIN SAFE CONDITIONS. 6) ISOLATION PROCEDURES MUST BE ESTABLISHED FOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, GAS OR LIQUID SYSTEM THAT COULD ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE AND ENDANGER THE EMPLOYEE. 7) EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES APPROPRIATE FOR THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED. THESE PROCEDURES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS, SHALL BE POSTED CONSPICUOUSLY WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE AREA DURING ENTRY. 8) TRAINED PERSONNEL SHALL BE STATIONED OUTSIDE THE CONFINED SPACE AND MAINTAIN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH ENTRANTS. PERSONNEL MUST BE SUPPLIED WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT FOR THE RESCUE OF PERSONS ENTERING THE SPACE. SUCH EQUIPMENT MUST INCLUDE SAFETY HARNESS AND LIFELINES WITH PROVISIONS FOR HOISTING EMPLOYEES FROM THE CONFINED SPACE. IF ENTRY IS REQUIRED FOR RESCUE, THE RESCUE EMPLOYEE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROVED AIR SUPPLIED RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS APPROPRIATE. 9) CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES SHALL BE WRITTEN AND THE APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEES TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROCEDURE.