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 the employer did not provide for employees involved in confined space entry or closed vessels an adequate confined space entry procedure to protect the employees from possible overexposure to toxic substances such as those arising from process residues, cleaning materials and maintenance procedures: a) Dock area - entry into 5700 gallon tanker for cleaning after removal of contents (inedible eggs). Entry occurred on July 16, 1985, at approximately 1:30 a.m. A minimally acceptable confined space entry procedure consists of the following elements: 1) A written program containing the following requirements: a) Hazard evaluation before entry into the confined space. b) Testing the confined space atmosphere for toxic substnaces, oxygen content, and flammable vapors. c) Provisions for selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), according to hazard. d) Limitations and restrictions of personal protective equipment. e) Lockout and tagging procedures for any electrical or mechanical equipment to which an employee in a confined space could be exposed. f) Provisions for classification of confined spaces as immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). g) Written procedures for entering an IDLH environment. h) A requirement for use of standby person, equipped for rescue according to the projected hazard, to remain outside of the confined space and be in immediate contact with the employees in the confined space. i) A requirement that both the employee entering the confined space and the standby person be equipped with appropriate respiratory protection gear and harnesses with lifelines if it is possible for the atmosphere inside the tank to become IDLH. j) Emergency/rescue procedurs for a potential IDLH environment. 2) Training of assigned personnel in confined space entry procedures, in selection, use and maintenance of personal protective equipment and in lockout procedures. 3) Assignment of a competent individual to ensure enforcement of confined space entry procedures, adequate training of employees involved in confined space entry and that protective equipment procedures and emergency/rescue plans are adequate to assure employee safety. 4) Training of assigned personnel in emergency/rescue procedures according to hazard, including IDLH environments. 5) Use of a permit system with permits containing the following types of information: a) Location of job and specific confined space identification. b) Description of job. c) Names of employees entering confined space. d) Entry date and time. e) Isolation procedure checklist (lockout, etc.) f) Hazardous work checklist (welding, open flame, etc.) g) Expected hazards (toxic materials, etc.) h) Vessel cleaning information (deposits, method, inspections, etc.) i) Fire safety precautions, if applicable. j) Personal safety checklist (respiratory, clothing, budy system, etc.) k) Confined space atmosphere information (test performed, location and results; example: Oxygen, midpoint tank #3, 20.0%) to include any remarks and signoff or tester with time/date. l) Authorizing agent signature with time/date. m) Emergency telephone number of notification procedure. n) Expiration date and time of permit (maximum of one shift). 6) Provisions for purging and ventilating the confined space according to hazard.