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 the hazards of potentially oxygen deficient, toxic and/or explosive atmosphere(s) during entry into, work in, and exit from confined spaces: (a)COMPOSTING RUNOFF WATER STORAGE TANKS - EMPLOYEE(S) ENTERED TANK(S) TO CLEAN SEDIMENT, AND TO CLEAR A BLOCKAGE IN A TANK INTERCONNECTOR PIPE. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM AND PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS: 1.Instruction of all entry personnel and supervision as to the nature of the hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relative to confined space entry. 2.Posting of written confined space entry procedures adjacent to confined space areas which may be entered. 3.Use of cleaning, purging and ventilating procedures that do not require entry of confined spaces by employees. 4.Implementation of lockout and isolation procedures, where applicable, and issuance of a proper entry permit, prior to confined space entry. 5.Use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of oxygen deficiencies and/or hazardous air contaminants prior to entry into confined spaces. 6.Where it has been determined that the confined space(s) contains a hazardous air contaminant level and/or an oxygen deficiency, use of mechanically induced ventilation in the confined space before entry and during occupancy and/or use of respiratory protective equipment which provides adequate protection against the hazard(s) encountered. 7.Use of appropriate personal protective clothing, where applicable. 8.Provisions for a standby observer located outside the confined space, and a means of communication with the worker inside the confined space, and a means of obtaining immediate help in an emergency. 9.Provision, procedures and use of readily available emergency rescue equipment consisting of a safety lineand harness arrangement. 10.Periodic training/refresher training sessions for all entry employees and supervision, relative to confined space entry, rescue and first aid procedures.