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 the hazard of chemical overexposure and asphyxia during entry into confined spaces. a) On September 9, 1999 an employee died after entering a confined space (utility vault containing water pipes and valves) without implementing any standard confined space entry precautions. The utility vault was tested the following day and was found to have an oxygen deficient atmosphere (14.4) and excessive levels of carbon dioxide (28,000 parts per million). A normal oxygen level is 20.8and an atmosphere is considered to be oxygen deficient if it contains less than 19.5oxygen. The permissible exposure level for carbon dioxide is 5,000 parts per million. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to institute a confined space entry program which adopts the requirements of the American National Standard (ANSI) Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces (Z117.1-1989). Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").