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) The potential hazards of oxygen deficiency, toxic substances, and flammable/combustible gases in a confined space. Employees entered manhole A5-1. Wyngate Parkway to grout the joints and clear out the bottom of the manhole and the employer had not established a safe confined space entry procedure. On or about September 13, 1988. Acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazards include but are not limited to the following: 1) Conduct appropriate tests of the atmosphere in the confined space to ensure that air contaminant levels are not exceeded, that the oxygen concentration is at least 19.5 percent, and that flammable/ combustible gases are at a safe level. 2) Use mechanical ventilation to thoroughly ventilate the confined space prior to entry and during the work being performed to ensure that conditions are safe. Test the atmosphere in the confined space periodically while work is being performed to ensure that conditions are safe. 3) Equip employees who enter confined spaces with safety harnesses, with lifelines attached to appropriate retrieval equipment (tripod, quadpod, winch etc.). Have a standby employee outside of the confined space to observe and be in constant communication with employees inside the confined space.