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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupatinal 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 toxic or explosive atmospheres by entering confined space without observing adequate safe entry procedures. Feasible and useful methods to correct this hazard are outlined in ANSI Z117.1-1977 (Safety Requirements for Working in Tanks and Other Confined Spaces: a) Staple Department: Wire winders' pits were entered and the following deficiencies in confined space work procedures were noted: 1) A Qualified person did not test the atmosphere of the pit where the presence of flammable, explosive or toxic contaminants may exist prior to employee entry to determine the nature and extent of any such hazard. (ANSI Z117.1-1977 Section 3.1 General Precautions Before Entry). 2) Where it was not practical to lock a switch, controls were not tagged to indicate that employees were working on the equipment (ANSI Z117. 1-1977 Sec. 3.2.4.3 Tagging). 3) The pit was not ventilated to prevent the accumulation of flammables in the atmosphere above 10% of the lower flammable limit (L.F.L.) (ANSI Z117.1-1977 Sec 3.3.1(1) Ventilation). 4) Before employees were permitted to enter a pit in which potential hazards may exist, a qualified person did not determine what precautions must be taken, reduce them to writing and then sign and issue an entry permit (ANSI Z117.1-1977 Section 5.1 Entry Permit) 5) While employees were inside a confined space, an employee within voice or visual range was not available in the immediate vicinity to render such emergency assistance as may be required. (ANSI Z117.1- 1977 Section 5.3.2 Standby) 6) Hollow spaces, such as ventilation ductwork, located in a confined space were not cleaned, inspected and tested prior to performing hot work (e.g. drilling and installing self-tapping screws) (ANSI Z117.1- 1977 Section 6.1.5(1) Hot Work). 7) Suitable portable fire extinguishers were not available to employees in the confined space (ANSI 117.1-1977 Section 6.3.1 Fire Prevention)