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

KRS Chapter 338.031(1)(a): The employer did not furnish to each of its employees employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees in that employees were exposed to: Immediately dangerous to life and health(IDLH) levels of hydrogen sulfide gas in the north and south pump stations at the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a strong odor. Exposure to the gas can cause apnea, comas, convulsions, conjuctivitis, eye pain and death from asphyxiation. Elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide were present on 8/9/05 when one Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District operator and two employees of Debra Koons dba API Services passed out in the south pump station. On 8/9/05, two contracted employees of Debra Koons dba API Services were unclogging a pipe on pump #8 in the south pump station by means of line moling. When the clog broke, sludge came out of the pipe at high pressure, trapping one of the Debra Koons dba API Services employees between the wall and the sludge that was coming out of the pipe. A Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District operator on duty in the north pump station returned to the scene of the incident with an API employee who went to summon help. The men had no sampling equipment and no idea of the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the area. Both men passed out in the process of rescuing the other contractor employee. Sampling performed after all employees had been rescued and sent to the hospital showed a hydrogen sulfide concentration of 61ppm in the area according to the Process Supervisor. Per the Process Supervisor and the Safety/Emergency Response Coordinator, hydrogen sulfide levels continued to be high days after the incident area had been cleaned up. According to Safety and Health Topics: Hydrogen Sulfide, located at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000783.html, loss of consciousness indicates hydrogen sulfide levels of 500-700ppm. No procedure for sampling hydrogen sulfide in the pump stations is in place. The employees had voiced concerns about hydrogen sulfide levels to management in the past and management had looked into purchasing fixed monitors for the north and south pump stations. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce entry procedures for the pump stations similar to those established for entry into confined spaces. Essential elements of these procedures would include: 1.Establish a written entry procedure, including procedures to be followed and training for all affected employees. 2.Sampling procedure for the pump stations so that employees are aware of the levels of hydrogen sulfide in the stations prior to, and during, entry so employees will know when the area is safe to enter. 3.Installation of fixed hydrogen sulfide monitors in the pump stations or gas meters that detect hydrogen sulfide. 4.Have rescue personnel available when entry of the pump stations is being performed.