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 con- fined spaces: (a) THE EMPLOYER DID NOT DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SAFE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER STOCK CHESTS AND BOILERS TO PERFORM CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS. AMONG OTHER METHODS, A FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR SAFE ENTRY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF A WRITTEN ENTRY PERMIT PROGRAM INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: A) HAZARD IDENTIFICATION B) HAZARD CONTROL C) PERMIT SYSTEM D) EMPLOYEE INFORMATION E) PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY F) EMPLOYEE TRAINING G) EQUIPMENT H) RESCUE I) PROTECTION FROM EXTERNAL HAZARDS J) DUTY TO OTHER EMPLOYERS 2. ENTRY INTO THE TANK SHALL BE BY PERMIT ONLY. THE PERMIT SHALL BE SPECIFIC FOR THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE DONE. THE PERMIT SHALL BE DATED AND CARRY AN EXPIRATION TIME THAT WILL BE VALID FOR ONE SHIFT ONLY. THE PERMIT SHALL BE UPDATED FOR EACH SHIFT WITH THE SAME REQUIREMENTS. 3. THE PERMIT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: A) THE HAZARDS OF THE PERMIT SPACE; B) ISOLATION PROCEDURES; C) OTHER MEASURES FOR REMOVING OR CONTROLLING POTENTIAL HAZARDS; D) ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS TO BE MAINTAINED DURING ENTRY; E) TESTING AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES TO VERIFY AND MAINTAIN ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS; F) RESCUE AND OTHER SERVICES TO BE SUMMONED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE SERVICES; G) ANY RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO BE PROVIDED ON SITE; H) COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED BY AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS AND ATTENDANTS TO MAINTAIN CONTACT; I) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED; J) ANY OTHER INFORMATION NECESSARY TO ENSURE EMPLOYEE SAFETY. 4. ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE PERMIT SPACE SHALL RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HAZARD RECOGNITION; COMMUNICATION WITH ATTENDANT; THE PERMIT SYSTEM; EMERGENCY ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURES; AND PROPER WORK PRACTICES TO BE USED IN A CONFINED SPACE. 5. ALL EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AS ATTENDANTS SHALL RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HAZARD RECOGNITION; COMMUNICATION WITH ENTRANTS; ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS APPROACH OR ENTER A PERMIT SPACE; PROPER RESCUE PROCEDURES. 6. ALL ENTRANCES TO THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE POSTED WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: DANGER; CONFINED SPACE; ENTRY BY PERMIT ONLY 7. PROVISIONS SHALL BE MADE FOR AN IN-PLANT RESCUE TEAM.