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

29 CFR 1926.1204(c): Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to, the following: a) On or about October 30, 2024, at the AAC gas pit at the Cincinnati Zoo, John E. Carrigan Plumbing Co. failed to develop and implement the necessary procedures for safe entry into a permit-required confined space before directing employees to enter the space for the removal and replacement of gas lines. Specifically, the employer failed to: 1926.1204(c)(1) - Specify acceptable entry conditions prior to entry. 1926.1204(c)(3) - Isolate the permit space and physical hazards within the space, as the natural gas line had not been properly eliminated or isolated through engineering controls. 1926.1204(c)(5) - Determine whether, in the event of a ventilation system failure, monitoring procedures would detect an increase in atmospheric hazard levels in sufficient time for entrants to safely exit the permit space. 1926.1204(c)(7) - Verify that conditions within the permit space remained acceptable throughout the duration of entry, and ensure that employees were not exposed to a hazardous atmosphere unless effective personal protective equipment (PPE) was provided. 1926.1204(c)(8) - Eliminate any conditions (e.g., high pressure) that could make it unsafe to remove an entrance cover before work began. As a result, employees were exposed to hazardous atmospheric conditions and potential uncontrolled movement of pressurized gas lines, increasing the risk of serious injury.