Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A 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 hazards of asphyxiation. Illnesses, fire and explosion: a) Industrial Maintenance employees were required to enter confined spaces, such as manholes, industrial underground tunnels and sewer lines, and water storage tanks, that in some instances, limited movement and were greater than ten feet deep, for cleaning, unblocking, and removing sludge and excess water with hand tools and powered suction type equipment; thereby exposingemployees to the potential hazards of engulfment, oxygen deprivation, toxic gases, energized systems, and enmeshment without appropriate precautions or training. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods, as listed in ANSI-Z117-77, to correct the hazard are, but are not limited to development of written confined space entry permits, testing for toxic gases that may be present such as hydrogen sulfide, testing for oxygen deficiency, and explosive gases, testing of ventilation equipment (gasoline powered) for carbon monoxide, training of personnel involved in confined space entry in the physical hazards and health hazards and symptoms of overexposure to gases that may be present in confined spaces. Training should also include specific rescue procedures that could be required to remove an unconscious employee from a confined space, such as a manlift or additional personnel. Procedures should be developed for use of standby person, use of a safety harness or safety wrist harness, and lifelines. Procedures should also be developed for assuring isolation/lockout-out procedures (where applicable), continuous ventilation (where applicable), and appropriate selection, use, and training in personal protective equipment (where applicable).