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

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 potential atmospheric and thermal hazards when entering a horizontal waste heat duct located in the boiler room of the corn processing plant at Archer Daniels Midland. The employees entered the duct, which is a permit required confined space as defined in 29 CFR 1910.146, on 1/5/96 and 1/6/96, and used electric reciprocating saws and gas powered chop saws to cut and demolish the duct. Atmospheric testing for carbon monoxide was not performed, either before or during the entry. Testing for oxygen deficiency or combustible gas was not performed during the entry. An entry permit was not issued. Branch ducts connected the waste heat duct to exhaust stacks for the gas fired boilers, and these branch ducts were not blanked to isolate the horizontal waste heat duct from the exhaust stacks. Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement could include: 1.Perform the entry in accordance with OSHA's permit required confined space standard, 29 CFR 1910.146. 2.Implement measures that would change the horizontal duct from a permit required confined space to a confined space. Such measures would include, but not necessarily be limited to, prohibiting the use of gas powered saws inside the duct, and disconnecting the duct from the exhaust stacks prior to entry. Disclaimers: a.The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA; b.The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases; c.The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an effective abatement method.nt