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

Section 1-201(a) of the Executive Order 12196 of Feb 26, 1980: Each agency did not furnish to employees places and condition of employment that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to the hazard of serious burns, suffocation and/or death: a) Maintenance employees required to check pumps inside sewage tank (3' x 28' 8" x 20' deep) at the drywell sewage lift station were exposed to the hazard of flammable and explosive gases and inhalation of toxic chemical eg hydrogen sulfide that could result in asphyxia and death. Among other methods feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the aforementioned hazards include: 1. Provide training to the maintenance employees on the hazards and potential hazard involved with entry into the sewage tank. 2. Instruct employees about and enforce the requirement to perform atmo- spheric testing for oxygen deficiency, flammable and combustible gases, and for toxic chemicals prior to entry into the confined space utilizin g a properly functioning and calibrated testing device. Testing must include all areas of the confined space to account for various densities of the contaminant gases. 3. Instruct employees about the proper personal protective equipment such as harnesses, respirators and protective clothing necessary to be used. 4. Instruct employees about safe ventilation procedures to be utilized before and during confined space entry. 5. Implement a "permit system" and enforce its use prior to any confined space entry. 6. Provide training to the employees that work as standby observers outside the confined space in proper rescue procedures and in the use of retrieval equipment such as lifeline, harnesses and lanyards. 7. Instruct employees in the lockout/tagout procedures and proper entry permit to confined spaces.