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 hazardous atmospheres when entering into and performing work within confined spaces: Yellow Mill River Siphons, Bridgeport, CT: Employees who were required to enter a sewer manhole and sewer siphon to perform work and rescue duties were potentially exposed to hazardous atmospheres as follows: a) On or about January 3, 2001: The internal atmospheric conditions of the east side sewer manhole and the de-watered portion of the north sewer siphon were not tested while employees were in the spaces or prior to entry during the rescue of a diver who became unconscious in the north siphon. Employees who entered the spaces did not wear respiratory protection for IDLH atmospheres. The manhole had pipe openings for the north siphon, south siphon, and the receiving pipe for raw sewage. The manhole space and the de-watered portion of the north siphon that employees entered were not isolated to prevent entry of a hazardous atmosphere from other parts of the sewer system. b) On or about January 17, 2001: The internal atmospheric conditions of the east side sewer manhole were not tested immediately prior to entry and were not tested while an employee worked in the space as a stand-by diver. While the stand-by diver stood in the manhole, respiratory protection for an IDLH atmosphere was not worn. The manhole had pipe openings for the north siphon, south siphon, and the receiving pipe for raw sewage. The manhole space and the de-watered portion of the north siphon that employees entered were not isolated to prevent entry of a hazardous atmosphere from other parts of the sewer system. Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to the following: 1. Identification of confined spaces and the potential hazards present in confined spaces. 2. Develop, implement, and ensure the use of appropriate confined space entry procedures. 3. Perform atmospheric testing of the confined space with direct reading air monitoring instruments that are properly calibrated and maintained. 4. Perform atmospheric testing of the confined space prior to an employee entering the space, periodically while the employee is in the space, and if the atmosphere of the space cannot be isolated such as in a sewer system, continuously monitor the air space were employees are working. 5. Provide and ensure the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. 6. Develop procedures for emergencies and ensure that appropriate rescue of confined space entrants is being provided. 7. Provide information and training to affected employees on the potential hazard(s) associated with the confined space; calibration, use, and maintenance of direct reading atmospheric monitoring instruments; the use of engineering controls; the selection and use of personal protective equipment; means of communication between the confined space entrant(s) and attendant(s); and emergency procedures for the rescue of the entrant(s). Abatement Documentation Required For This Item