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 hazards associated with being overcome by toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres and physical hazards in confined spaces. (a) Branch Avenue Jobsite: On or about June 08, 1999, Spiniello Companies failed to develop and implement adequate written confined space entry procedures for employees who were working in a brick-lined sewer tunnel 20 to 60 feet below the road. Deficiencies included: (1) Ineffective retrieval system to remove disabled or unconscious workers from confined space. (2) Failure to provide adequate rescue capability for individuals in a confined space should an emergency arise. (3) Failure to perform continuous testing of the atmosphere for oxygen deficiency and toxic air contaminants. (4) Failure to develop and implement proper standby personnel procedures for all points of entry and exit. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce and adequate confined space entry program such as that stipulated in 29 CFR 1910.146 including, but not limited to, the following elements: 1) Confined space program as described in 1910.146(d) 2) Rescue procedures as described in 1910.146(d)(9), and 3) Standby personnel procedures as described in 1910.146(i) "ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM"