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) Asphyxiation, chemical poisoning and/or dangerous accumulations of toxic vapors (such as benzene) while cleaning crude oil storage tank #27 of the Portland Pipeline (a multi-story 200 foot diameter tank). The hazards resulted from deficiencies in the company's tank entry program which included the following: a) Failure to adequately test the atmosphere of the tank for oxygen deficiency, flammables and/or toxics before employees are permitted to enter tanks. Sampling was performed hourly within the manway and at the exhaust fan; samples taken in this manner would not give a true picture of the conditions within the (200 foot diameter) work area. Inadequate sampling data can result in inappropriate respiratory protection being worn. b) Lack of training provided to employees in the hazards associated with entering confined spaces, such as tanks along with methods they can take to minimize them. c) Failure to provide lifelines and other rescue gear to employees working in a confined space. 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 be limited to, the following elements: a) Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation, atmospheric testing, rescue procedures and employee training. b) 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 performed and certifies that all existing and potential hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person and necessary protective measures have been taken to assure the safety of each worker. c) Mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere when determined necessary as described in (b) above. d) Testing of the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry and on a regular basis for the presence of sufficient oxygen (19.5) and the absence of hazardous levels of toxic or combustible gases or vapors when determined necessary as described in (b) above. e) Disconnecting the power source of any equipment, machine or process to be set up adjusted, repaired, seviced, cleaned, installed or where maintenance work is to be performed and unintended motion or release of energy would cause personal injury. Sources of stored energy such as springs, air, hydraulic, capacitors and steam shall be evaluated in advance to determine whether to retain or releive the energy prior to starting the work. f) Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained personnel are available and are stationed outside the confined space with proper equipment to provide rescue of persons entering the space as determined necessary as described in (b) above. Such equipment must include safety harnesses and lifelines with provisions for hoisting employees from the confined space. If entry is required for rescue, the rescuing employees must be equipped with a self contained breathing apparatus(SCBA) or other equivalent respiratory protection plus other appropriate personal protective equipment. g) Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined space. This training shall include the procedures required prior to entry and the hazards associated with work in confined spaces. This would include the wearing of a body harness and tended lifeline attached to a hoist or jib; work practices to be followed while cleaning and locking out any moving agitators, rotating knives, etc., before work is allowed to begin.