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 employmnent 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 toxic and/or flammable gases: (a)Asphyxiation and/or death from the hazards of oxygen deficiency and/or dangerous accumulations of toxic or flammable gases while entering an elevated water tank in Griffin, GA. in order to sandblast, torch cut metal brackets and paint. These hazards resulted from deficiencies in the implementation of the company's confined space entry program which included the following: (a)Failure to implement the company's permit system. (b)Failure to test the atmosphere of the tank for oxygen deficiency, flammables and/or toxics during operations such as torch cutting metal brackets and painting. (c)Possible improper respiratory protection selection during cutting and painting operations. (employees wore North half mask respirators in unknown concentrations) (d)Lack of or inadequate training provided to employees in the hazards associated with entering confined spaces, such as water tanks, along with methods they can take to minimize them. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with the OSHA standard 1910.146 " Confined Space Entry" which includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following elements: (a)The completion and posting of a confined space entry permit which requires authorization and approval in writing that specifies the location and type of work to be done and certifies that all existing and potential hazards have been evaluated and necessary protective measures have been taken to assure the safety of each worker. (b)Mechanical ventilation of the confined space to provide a safe atmosphere when determined necessary as described in (a) above. (c)Testing of the atmosphere of the confined space on a regular basis for the presence of sufficient oxygen and absence of hazardous levels of toxic or flammable gases or vapors when determined necessary as described in (a) above. (d)Respiratory protection that is appropriate for the atmosphere to which they are exposed when determined necessary as described in (a) above. (e)Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained personnel are available with the proper equipment to provide rescue as determined necessary as described in (a) above. (f)Training of personnel in confined space entry procedures.