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 the hazards of buildup and ignition of flammable gasoline vapors: ON/ABOUT 12/11/2000, AN EMPLOYEE WITH AN ELECTRIC WET VACUUM CLEANER WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER A SUMP (MANHOLE) WHICH HAD FLAMMABLE GASOLINE VAPORS TRAPPED INSIDE. WHILE USING THE VACUUM CLEANER TO SUCK WATER OUT OF THE SUMP, THE EMPLOYEE WAS EXPOSED TO HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDUP OF FLAMMABLE VAPORS INCLUDING EXPLOSION. AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS TO CORRECT THE HAZARD INCLUDE: 1.CONDUCT A WORKPLACE HAZARD EVALUATION TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK. 2.DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES INCLUDING SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR EACH JOB. PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CONFINED SPACES, DETERMINATION OF HAZARDS, AIR TESTING FOR AIR CONTAMINANTS, FLAMMABLE ATMOSPHERE, AND OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, PROCEDURES FOR ELIMINATING OR CONTROLLING HAZARDS IN THE CONFINED SPACE, USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND RESCUE PROCEDURES. 3.PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH INFORMATION AND TRAINING ASSOCIATED WITH CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS.