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 confined space hazards on September 5, 1996 at Pier R-3 at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station: a.A confined space entry permit was issued for tank 1830 by a foreman instead of the designated confined space qualified person. b.Atmospheric testing or visual site observation was not conducted for tank 1830 prior to allowing employees to enter the confined space. c.The employer failed to establish proper rescue procedures prior to allowing them enter a confined space. d.The employer failed to adequately train employees in proper rescue procedures prior to allowing them to enter a confined space. e.The employer failed to ensure that a trained attendant was provided for an employee working in tank 1830. f.An employee entered tank 1830 to remove a bypass hose without having his body harness attached to a safety line connected to a retrieval tripod. g.An employee did not immediately exit tank 1830 upon the discharge of sewage when the bypass hose was disconnected which constituted a change in tank conditions and required a new confined space entry permit. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CONFINED SPACE ENTRY SPACE PROGRAM.