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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occuaptional 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 hazard of oxygen dificient or toxic atmospheres from entry into confined spaces. a) Employees enter the CA (controlled atmosphere) storage rooms to obtain apple samples for quality testing and then remove bins containing apples from the rooms once per season. These CA rooms are oxygen deficient and contain carbon dioxide gas at the time when apples are collected for testing; and could possibly be oxygen deficient and/or contain carbon dioxide gas when the seasonal apple bins removal occurs. Procedures established for confined space entry are inadequate in that: 1) The Fisher Orsat Gas Apparatus air monitoring device used to evaluate the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the CA rooms is not portable and is not located in an area representative of employee exposure. 2) Monitoring of the CA rooms is not conducted periodically during bin removal operations to ensure a safe working environment. 3) The employee using a self-contained breathing apparatus was not adequately trained on the use of the device. 4) The employee entering the CA rooms to obtain test apples was not equipped with lifeline and a rescue harness, safety belt or wrist harness. 5) The self-contained breathing apparatus equipment was not inspected on a monthly basis. 5) The self-contained breathing apparatus equipment was not inspected on a monthly basis. 6) A comprehensive written program for confined space had not been developed or implemented. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to implement and enforce a comprehensive confined space entry program which would include the following elements: 1) Written procedure for work performed in dangerous atmospheres in confined spaces including: a) Procedures covering selection, use, limitation, and maintenance of self-contained breathing apparatus. b) Procedures covering the use of and inspection of self-contained breathing apparatus. c) Procedures covering the use of oxygen concentration, toxic and combustible gas monitors for atmosphere testing within confined spaces. d) A permit system for entry into confined spaces which shall include the following information in the checklist portion of a permit: i) The hazards of the permit space; ii) The measures for isolation of the permit space; iii) The measures, such as lockout/tagout, equipment and procedures for purging, inerting, ventilation and flushing, used to remove or control potential hazards; iv) Acceptable environmental conditions, quantified with regard to the hazards identified in the permit space, which must be maintained during entry; v) Testing and monitoring equipment and procedures by which the employer will verify that acceptable environmental conditions are being maintained during entry; vi) The rescue and other services which would be summoned in case of emergency and the means of communication with those services; vii) The rescue equipment to be provided on-site, if necessary; viii) The communication procedures and equipment used by authorized entrants and attendants to maintain contact; ix) The personal protective equipment, such as respirators, clothing and retrieval lines, provided in order to ensure employee safety; and; x) Any other information whose inclusion is necessary, given the circumstances of the particular permit space, in order to ensure employee safety; e) Rescue and training; f) Procedures covering standby personnel with suitable rescue equipment; g) Procedures covering the use of appropriate safety equipment such as lifeline and body harnesses. 2) Training procedures for work performed in confined spaces including: a) All personnel working in confined spaces shall be trained and informed about any hazard (fire, explosion, asphyxiation) they may encounter in connection with the work they are about to perform; b) Rescue standby worker(s) shall be trained in rescue techniques, first aid, and (resuscitation). c) Personnel assigned to test confined space atmospheres shall be trained in the proper use of gas detection equipment. Also, their knowledge of testing methods and equipment use shall be periodically tested. 3) Pre-entry procedures for confined spaces including: a) Where applicable, the following atmosphere tests shall be performed with state-of-the-art monitoring devices and by a competent person prior to allowing employees to enter confined spaces. i) Oxygen deficiency test to detect levels of oxygen below 19.5%; ii) Combustible gases test to detect the presence of combustible gases and vapors; iii) Toxic gas test to detect presence of toxic gases likely to be encountered; iv) Test equipment shall be calibrated pre- & post-entry. b) All valves and switches connected with the operation of the confined space shall be closed and locked to prevent accidental introduction of contaminants. c) Confined spaces shall be purged for as long as necessary to reduce any contaminants to safe levels; d) All sources of ignition shall be removed if flammable or combustible materials are present or capable of being produced; e) Personal protective clothing and equipment shall be provided as may be necessary; f) The completion and posting of a confined space entry permit including at a minimum, the following information: i) The identity of the permit space; ii) The purpose of the entry; iii) The date of the entry and the authorized duration; (A permit may be valid for up to one year so long as all conditions under which the permit was issued are maintained); iv) A list of the authorized entrants; v) A list of eligible attendants; vi) A list of individuals eligible to be in charge of the entry and; vii) The signature together with the name printed or otherwise legible, of the individual authorizing the entry verifying that all actions and conditions necessary for safe entry have been performed. 4) Confined space work procedures including: a) Continuous ventilation shall be provided during occupancy when contaminants being continuously generated or an approved air-supplied breathing apparatus shall be provided; b) Personnel working in confined spaces shall be under observation of or in communication with a competent standby rescue worker(s) outside the hazardous locations; c) Personnel working in confined spaces shall be provided with a rescue harness, safety belt or wrist harness, and a proper lifeline; d) Respirators, either supplied-air with escape provisions or self- contained, shall be immediately available for use by the resuce worker(s). The respirators shall be in a constant state of readiness; e) Monitoring of the confined space during operations shall be conducted periodically during work operations to ensure a safe working environment.