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 hazards of confined spaces: At this location, employees entered active sewer manholes to apply a concrete sealer on September 1, 1998 without observing the required precautions to ensure that their safety and/or health would not be compromised during the entry. Employees were exposed to the hazards of a permit required confined space in the manholes in that: a.No evaluation of the confined space was conducted to determine if a permit required confined space existed as required by ANSI Z117.1-1989, Section 3.1. b.Employees entered the active sewer manholes to apply a concrete sealer and no provisions for entry permits were established as required by ANSI Z117.1-1989, Section 5.1. c.Employees entered the active sewer manholes to apply concrete sealer and no atmospheric testing was conducted to insure a toxic gas (i.e. hydrogen sulfide), oxygen deficient or flammable condition (i.e. methane gas) did not exist or arise during the operation as required by ANSI Z117.1-1989, Section 16.1. d.Employees entered the active sewer manholes to apply concrete sealer and no provisions for emergency response were developed, such as, but not limited to, lifelines, harnesses, hole watch personnel, and designation of rescue personnel capable of responding in a timely manner as required by ANSI Z117.1-1989, Section 14.1. *** Certification and Documentation of Abatement required ***