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

THE ALLEAGED VIOLATIONS BELOW HAVE BEEN GROUPED BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE SIMILAR OR RELATED HAZARDS THAT MAY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY RESULTING FROM AN ACCIDENT. 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 FORM 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 OXYGEN DEFICIENCY AND/OR FLAMMABLE AND TOXIC ATMOSPHERE INSIDE A 10,000 GALLON TANK. ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 15, 1991. AN EMPLOYEE ENTERED THE 10,000 GASOLINE TANK, A CONFINED SPACE, AFTER DETERMING OXYGEN LEVELS TO BE APPROXIMATELY 15.8 PER CENT. SUITABLE EMERGENCY RESCUE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT PROVIDED NOR HAD EMPLOYEES BEEN PROVIDED TRAINING ON THE PROPER USE AND LIMITATIONS OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND THE HAZARD OF WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE AN ADEQUATE PLANT CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM SUCH AS THAT STIPULATED BY ANSI Z1117.1-19 89, SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING IN TANKS AND OTHER CONFINED SPACES. SUCH A PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, AS A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: 1) WRITTEN PROCEDURES COVERING A PERMIT SYSTEM, VENTILATIONS, ATMOSPHERIC TESTING. RESCUE PROCEDURES, AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING. 2) THE COMPLETION AND POSTING OF A CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT WHICH REQUIRES AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL IN WRITING THAT SPECIFIES THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE DONE AND CERTIFIES THAT ALL EXISTING AND EXISTING AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY A QUALI- FIED PESON AND NECESSARY PROTECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EACH WORKER. 3) LOCKOUT, BLOCKING, STOPPING AND REDUCING MACHINES TO ZERO MECHANICAL AND THERMAL STATE OF ALL MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, LIQUID AND GAS SYSTEMS RELATING TO THE CONFINED SPACE THAT MAY CREAT A HAZARD DURING ENTRY SHOULD THESE SYSTEMS BE OUT IN MOTION OR OTHERWISE ACTIVATED. A WORKER INDIVIDUAL LOCK IS TO BE APPLIED AND A UNIQUE AND SITUATION TAG SHALL BE ATTACHED TO THE LOCK AND ENERGIZING CONTROLS. 4) MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND CONTINUED VENTILATION TO PROVIDE A SAFE ATMOSPHERE. WHEN DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE. 5) TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR PRESENCE OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN (19.5%) AND ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF TOXIC OR COMBUSTIBLE GASES OR VAPORS, WHEN DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE. 6) EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE AND AND ARE STATIONED OUTSIDE THE CONFINED SPACE WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESCUE OF PERSONS ENTERING THE SPACE AS DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE. SUCH EQUIPMENT MUST INCLUDE SAFETY HARNESS AND LIFE LINES WITH PROVISIONS FOR HOISTING EMPLOYEES FROM THE CONFINED SPACE. IF ENTRY IS REQUIRED FOR A RESCUE, THE RESCUING EMPLOYEE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROVED AIR SUPPLIED RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. 7) TRAINING OF ANY AND ALL EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER THE CONFINED SPACES. THIS TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE PROCEDURES REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENTRY AND THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK IN CONFINED SPACES.