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

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iv): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations including, purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards: (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations including, purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control the atmospheric hazards. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol. The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space. While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed. The attendant also collapsed after entering the railway tank car. The responding rescue agency determined that the percent oxygen inside the tank car was approximately 5%. The railway tank car contained an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere. Ventilation equipment and procedures for safe permit entry were not implemented to control or eliminate the atmospheric hazard. This condition exposed three employees to an IDLH atmosphere.