Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001B Hazard: UNAPEQUIP

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 inhalation of flammable vapors from the battery charging operation: a)U.S.Postal Service- Bell: On or about July 1 , 2008 employees working inside the battery charging sections 185 and 186 conduct operations such as but not limited to driving forklifts, changing and charging of batteries and a exposed to higher concentrations of the gas by product from the battery charging. The employer placed a large fan inside the room and all doors were open causing the ventilation system not to work effectively and therefore employees were able to smell concentrations of a gas in the air while working inside both charging sections. The ventilation system was dirty and is not maintained. ABATEMENT NOTE: AMONG OTHER FEASIBLE METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO IMPLEMENT A CLEANING, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SCHEDULE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AS REFERENCED IN THE 2003 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE (IMC), CHAPTER 1, ADMINISTRATION, SECTION 102.3.MAINTENANCE. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, BOTH EXISTING AND NEW, AND PARTS THEREOF SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AND IN SAFE SANITARY CONDITION.