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 confined space entry: (a)For employees entering manholes to perform the task of installing rubber bladder plugs in the ends of newly-installed sewer drain pipes, and to perform a leak test of the sewer drain pipe line, the employer did not develop, implement and maintain a Confined Space Entry Program. While ultimate responsibility rests with the employer, given his/her superior knowledge of the workplace, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard, among others, includes the development of a written Confined Space Entry Program. Essential elements include: 1.Written procedures that cover a confined space entry permit system (for each sewer location) ventilation, atmospheric testing, isolation, illumination, rescue procedures, emergency evacuation, means of safe ingress and egress, fire prevention, personal protective equipment, communications, and employee training; the procedures to be available for inspection and review by employees and their authorized representatives. 2.The completion and posting of a warning sign and a confined space entry permit which requires authorization and approval in writing that specifies the purpose, location and type of work to be done and certifies that all existing and potential hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person, and necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of each worker. 3.Provide mechanical ventilation, purging, inerting, or flushing of the confined space prior to entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere, when determined necessary as described in (2) above. 4.Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry and on a regular basis for presence of sufficient oxygen (19.5to 25) and absence of toxic, flammable or otherwise hazardous atmosphere, when determined necessary as described in (2) above. 5.Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained attendant personnel are available 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, and appropriate respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment for rescuers, with the understanding that no attendance or standby person enters the confined space until assured that adequate assistance is present.6.Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined space.