Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 an oxygen deficient atmosphere while performing fire extinguisher inspections in the Elevator Control Motor Room in Faircrest Steel Plant. On or about March 20, 2016, the employer did not have apparent knowledge of but should have recognized the potential for the introduction of nitrogen into a ventilation system which serviced the Elevator Motor Control Room where employees inspected fire extinguishers. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement to correct this hazard is to perform risk assessments to evaluate the need for periodic or continuous monitoring of the area; train workers on what to expect and how to handle oxygen-deficient atmospheres ; take precautions to provide warning (for example, monitoring systems, signs, and/or barriers) to persons entering the area where the potential for an oxygen-deficient atmosphere exists; isolate the space from the upstream source of the oxygen deficient atmosphere (i.e. nitrogen); utilize forced air ventilation to ventilate the space to achieve an oxygen concentration between 19.5 and 23.5 percent, and test the atmosphere to ensure a sufficient level of oxygen prior to allowing entry into the space.