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 recognized hazards of asphyxiation, chemical exposure, and physical injury associated with not having developed and implemented confined space entry and rescue systems procedures: (a) On or about May 18, 2009, for the employees who entered the manifold control pit to repair a broken valve, two employees were hospitalized after being overcome by toxic gases in the confined space at Schuring Farms, located at 507 South Second Street, Andover, South Dakota. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a confined space program including a survey of spaces, hazard identification and evaluation, a written program, training and atmospheric testing as described in ANSI Z117.1-2003, American National Standards Institute - Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").tion