Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 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: Employees were exposed to asphyxiation due to the potential hazards of an oxygen deficient atmosphere or air contaminent during the cleaningup procedures of hydraulic fluid, alcohol and acetone in the pit of: a) Dehydration Building, A-Line; b) 12" Blocker Building, A-Line; c) 12" Blocker Building, C-line Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to implement a confined space entry procedure which includes, but is not limited to the following items: 1) Instructions as to the nature of the hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relative to confined space entry; 2) Posting of written confined space entry procedures adjacent to pit or other confined space areas to be entered; 3) Use of cleaning, purging and ventilation procedures to remove sludge and other residues prior to confined space entry; 4) Proper entry permit prior to confined space entry; 5) Use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of hazardous air contaminants and potential oxygen deficiency prior to entry into the confined space; 6) Where it has been determined that the confined space contains a hazardous air contaminant level and/or an oxygen deficiency, use of mechanically-induced ventilation in the confined space before entry and during occupancy and/or use of respiratory protective equipment which provides adequate protection against the hazard(s) encountered; 7) Use of appropriate protective clothing, where applicable; 8) Provisions for a stand-by observer located outside the confined space and a means of communication with the worker inside the confined space and a means of obtaining immediate help in an emergency; 9) Provisions and procedures for readily available emergency standby equipment consisting of a safety line and harness and a self- contained breathing apparatus certified by NIOSH; 10) Implementation of periodic training sessions relatives to confined space entry, rescue and first-aid procedures. Verification Statement: The publication American National Standard Institute (ANSI Z117.1-1977) and/or N.J.A.C. 12:170 "Work in confined spaces may be used as a reference when developing entry procedures". Violation occurred on 6/3/89