Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 associated with working in confined spaces: a) Employees who must periodically enter the Grit Drag Conveyor Chamber to clean, repair and maintain the chamber are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants in addition to the moving parts of the conveyor system; on or about 11/17/89. b) Employees who must periodically enter the Grit Chamber to clean, repair and maintain the chamber, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content, and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. c) Employees who must periodically enter the Screen Bar Conveyor Chamber to clean, repair, and maintain the chamber, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants, in addition to the moving parts of the conveyor systems; on or about 11/17/89. d) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Wet Wells to clean, repair and maintain the wells, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. e) Employees who must periodically enter four (4) Primary Settling Tanks to clean, repair and maintain the settling tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. f) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Flotation Tanks to clean, repair and maintain these tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. g) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Sludge Tanks to clean, repair and maintain these tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of establishd proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. h) Employees who must periodically enter eight (8) Aeration Tanks to clean, repair and maintain these tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. i) Employees who must periodically enter four (4) Final Settling Tanks to clean, repair, and maintain settling tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, fuel vapors and solvents, low oxygen content and infectious diseases associated with waste water treatment plants; on or about 11/17/89. j) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Chlorination Tanks to clean, repair and maintain these tanks, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to chlorine; on or about 11/17/89. k) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Precipitators to clean, repair and maintain these precipitators, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to the hazards associated with falls from an elevation and exposure to heavy metals such as but not limited to: lead, cadmium, and copper in the form of dust and ash; on or about 11/17/89. l) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Furnaces to clean, repair and maintain these furnaces, are permitted to do so without the benifit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to the hazards associated with falls from an elevation of approximately 20 feet and air currents causing dust to obscure the employees visibility; on or about 11/17/89. m) Employees who must periodically enter two (2) Boilers to clean, repair and maintain these boilers, are permitted to do so without the benefit of established proper confined space entry procedures. Employees are exposed to falls from an elevation of 60 feet; on or about 11/17/89. Among ohter methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement Confined Space Entry Procedures which include, but are not limited, to the following items: ...Positive pressure breathing appraratus certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). ...Implementation of periodic training sessions for employees relative to confined space entry, rescue and first-aid procedures.