Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(4)(iv): Lifelines. Where a welder must enter a confined space through a manhole or other small opening, means shall be provided for quickly removing him in case of emergency. When safety belts and lifelines are used for this purpose they shall be so attached to the welder's body that his body cannot be jammed in a small exit opening. An attendant with a preplanned rescue procedure shall be stationed outside to observe the welder at all times and be capable of putting rescue operations into effect: On or about December 14, 2016, when a Welder/Fabricator employee had to enter the confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank through a small tank opening (manway): a) The employer did not provide means for quickly removing the Welder/Fabricator employee in case of emergency; and b) The employer did not ensure an attendant with a preplanned rescue procedure was stationed outside the confined space to observe the Welder/Fabricator employee at all times. In the alternative; 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(5): The employer shall ensure each attendant communicates with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space under paragraph (i)(6) of this section: On or about December 14, 2016, the employer did not ensure that an attendant was present and communicating with a Welder/Fabricator employee who had entered the permit-required confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank. In the alternative; 29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3): To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant: On or about December 14, 2016, the employer did not utilize retrieval systems or other methods to facilitate non-entry rescue when a Welder/Fabricator employee entered the permit-required confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank.