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) Water Treatment Plant, Southeast; Employees were exposed to a potential asphyxiation hazard due to the potential for an oxygen deficient atmosphere or air contaminents being encountered while working on multiconductor cables in a manhole measuring 12 ft. deep. One feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement confined space entry procedures as required by the American National Standards Institute ANSI Z 117.1-1989. Procedures include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Instructions as to the nature of the hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relative to confined space entry. 2. Posting of a written confined space entry procedure adjacent to the manhole or other confined space entry area's to be entered. 3. Use of cleaning, ventilation and purging procedures to remove air contaminents and ensure an adequate supply of oxygen. 4. Proper entry permit prior to confined space entry. 5. Use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of hazardous air contaminents and potential oxygen deficiency prior to entry into the confined space. 6. Where it has been determined that the confined space contains a hazardous air contaminent level and/or an oxygen deficiency, use of mechanically induced ventilation in the confined space before entry and during occupancy and/or the use of respiratory protective equipment which provides adequate protection against the hazards encountered. 7. Use of appropriate protective clothing where applicable. 8. Provision for a standby observer located outside the confined space and a means of communication with the worker(s) inside the confined space and a means of obtaining immediate help in an emergency. 9. Provision and procedures for readily available emergency standby equipment consisting of a safety line and harness and a self contained breathing apparatus certified by NIOSH. 10. Implementation of periodic training sessions relative to confined space entry, rescue and first aid procedures. Violation observed on or about 6/12/92