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 hazards associated with confined space entry such as, but not limited to; lack of oxygen, airborne contaminants, the lack of appropriate rescue procedures, the lack of constant air monitoring while in the confine d space and the lack of constant contact with stand by personnel located outside of the confined space. (1) Employees working in department # 115 in the mers pits were not provided information and training on the hazards associated with confined space. (2) Employees did not maintain constant visual or radio contact with a standby person. (3) Monitoring for oxygen deficiencies and air contaminants before every entry into the confined spac e and ongoing monitoring while in the confined space was not conducted. (4) The stand-by person was not equipped with a self contained breathing apparatus and rescue equipment that would ensure the safe rescue of employees in the confined space. Among other feasible abatement methods of the hazards, one feasible method to abate these deficiencies, includes but is not limited to: a) institutin g requirements that, prior to entry into the confined space, employees must b e trained on the hazards associated with the confined space, b) having method s and equipment available that will ensure monitoring for oxygen deficiency and air contaminants before each entry and continuously while employees are occupying the confined space, c) standby personnel providing that are equipped with at least a self contained breathing apparatus, and equipped with methods and equipment that will ensure a safe rescue of employees in the confined space.