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: (a) Employees were exposed to potential oxygen deficiency or toxic atmosphere while doing maintenance work, opera- tional activities and cleanup work when entering confined spaces such as the three pits 11'x19'x10' deep in the waste treatment system area and plating department on January 31, 1992. Entry procedures/steps shall be implemented such as: 1. Hazard identification. Identify and evaluate each hazard of the permit spaces, including determination of severity; 2. Hazard control. Establish and implement the means, procedures and practices by which the permit spaces can be entered safely; 3. Permit system. Establish a written permit system for the proper preparation, issuance and implementation of entry permits. 4. Employee information. Signs shall be posted near permit spaces to notify employees what hazards may be presnet and that only authorized entrants may enter the permit spaces; 5. Prevention of unauthorized entry. Prevent unauthorized employee entry through such measures as training or by posting signs and barriers, as necessary; 6. Employee training. Train employees so that attedants, authorized entrants and personel authorizing or in charge of entry can work safely in and around the permit space; 7. Equipment. Provide, maintain and ensure the proper use of the equipment necessary for safe entry, including testing, monitoring, communication and personal protective equipment. 8. Rescue. Ensure that the procedures and equipment necessary to rescue entrants from permit spaces are implemented and provided; 9. Protection from external hazards. Ensure that all pedestrian, vehicle or other barriers necessary to protect entrants from external hazards are provided; 10. Duty to other employers. Ensure that, when an employer, such as a contractor, plans to send employees into a permit space which is under the control of another employer (host employer), the host employer provides the contractor with available information on permit space hazards; on efforts to comply with this standard; and on any other workplace hazards, safety rules and emergency procedures of which the contractor needs to be aware of.