Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(7)(i): A space classified by the employer as a permit-required confined space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space under the following procedures: 1910.146(c)(7)(i) If the permit space poses no actual or potential atmospheric hazards and if all hazards within the space are eliminated without entry into the space, the permit space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space for as long as the non-atmospheric hazards remain eliminated. a) From October 8, 2020 to January 4, 2021, the employer had reclassified and entered the powder coat process line, a permit required confined space, on 13 occasions without ensuring the space posed no actual or potential atmospheric hazards in order for maintenance employees to perform repairs and preventive maintenance. On the cure oven, the natural gas was not always gas locked out until November of 2020, the preheat oven and cure oven were not isolated from the natural gas lines as the isolation procedure was not correctly performed by all employees, and the atmosphere was not tested.