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 an 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 expoed to the hazard of the physiological effect inhalation of a toxic substance, to asphyxiation, and to fire and or explosion during entry or work into a confined space situation. Employees were required to enter sepic tank to unclog over flow pipe. Employees could suffer death due to oxygen defiency (anoxia) and severe burns should a fire or explosion result among other hazards, with in uncontrolled confined spaces. Employees can also be injured during improper rescue procedures. Among aother methods, one feasible and acceptabled abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a confined space entry procedure which includes, but is not limited, the following items: 1. Instructions as to the nature of t he hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relat ive to confined space entry. 2. Posting of written confined space entry procedures adjacent to pits, tanks, vessels or other confined space areas which may be entered. 3. Use of cleaning, purging and ventilating procedures to remove sludge and other residue prior to confined space entry. 4. Implementation of established lockout and isolation procedures, where applicable, and issuance of a proper entry permit prior to confined space entry. 5. Use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of hazardous air contaminants and potential oxygen deficiency prior to entry into the confined space. 6. Where it has been determined that the confined splace contains a hazardous air contaminant level and/or an oxygen deficiency, use of mechanically-induced ventilation in the confined space before entry and during occupancy and/or use of respiratory protective equipment which provaides adequate protection against the hazard(s) encountered. 7. Use of appropriate protective clothing, where applicable. 8. Provisions for a standby observer located outside the confined space and a means of communication with the worker inside the confined space and a means of obtaining immediately help in an emergency. 9. Provisions and procedures for readily available emergency standby equipment consisting of a safety line and harness arrangement and a self-contained breathing apparatus certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 10. Implementation of periodic training sessions relative to confined space entry, rescue and first-aid procedures. 11. Fellow procedures in ANSI Z117.1-1989