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 chemical poisoning and/or death from the hazards of danger- ous accumulations of toxic vapors and serious burns and/or death due to dangerous accumulations of highly flammable vapors while working within a petroleum tank applying a polyester resin solution: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these hazards is to establish a written confined space entry program that will establish management controls over the work being performed and shall contain as a minimum, but not necessarily limited to, the following elements: a. An evaluation for the need to entry the space. Can an alternative method be utilized? b. Hazard evaluation which includes at least the following: 1. Tests for oxygen deficiency. 2. Tests for Toxic or Flammable Atmosphere. 3. Electrical Hazards. 4. Mechanical Hazards. 5. Noise. 6. Heat Stress. 7. Engulfment or Flooding. 8. Size of the space. c. Entry Procedures consisting of: 1. Use of Entry Permits/Hot Work Permit. 2. Lock out & Tag out mechanical and electrical equipment. 3. Lock out, blank off, or tag out pipes. 4. Test Atmosphere to include: a. Testing at various strata within the space. b. Look for dead air spaces where problems could be hiding. c. Test periodically during work to ensure levels have not changed because of activity in the enclosure. 5. Prepare for rescue. 6. Review entry, work and rescue procedures with employees. d. Work Procedure Controls - Evaluate the following: 1. What hazard does the job create (toxic atmosphere, heat stress, etc)? 2. Does the task require continuous ventilation and monitoring? 3. What personal protective equipment is needed? 4. Standby personnel must be present at all times, in constant communication and with appropriate rescue equipment. e. Rescue & Emergency Procedures shall include at least: 1. Arrangements must be made in advance to ensure the availability of personnel for rescue and medical care. 2. Continuous communication is crucial. 3. How will the person be extricated if an emergency arises? 4. Standby personnel must call for help and not enter until help arrives. f. Training and Education: Training is for all personnel associated with the confined space entry and would cover: 1. Not to enter confined spaces except under the permit system. 2. The hazards of "lone rescue". 3. How to summon help. Training for those individuals who will be entering a confined space will include: 1. Entry permit procedures. 2. Calibration & use of sampling gear. 3. Interpretation of test results. 4. Ventilation methods. 5. Lock out/tag out procedures. 6. Use of protective equipment. 7. Rescue and emergency procedures. 8. First Aid and CPR. At The Worksite: a) Three employees working in a 500,000 gallon petroleum tank were overexposed to dangerous concentrations of toxic vapors emitted from a solution of polyester resin, styrene monomer and methly ethyl ketone peroxide. b) Two of three employees in a 500,000 gallon petroleum tank were seriously burned in a flash fire resulting from the ignition of dangerous accumulations of highly flammable vapors.