Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

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 potentially exposed to working conditions and recognized hazards of being overcome by oxygen deficient atmospheres while performing maintenance and repairs of Boston Edison electrical lines and cables in manholes: a) Manhole 18809 (corner of Diamond and Stone Sts. Station, 26 Walpole, MA): 1) In which on August 12, 1989 employees utilized only on explosimeter prior to entering manhole to cut four cables. No forced ventilation was performed: 2) On August 15, 1989 midday, employees used a gas tester and had a blower at site and no further testing was performed prior to entry at midnight and at 3:30 am August 16, 1989: 3) On August 16, 1989, no monitoring of the atmospheric conditions were performed prior to the 1200 hour and 1400 hour entries. Entries were made to take voltage measurements. b) Manhole 18810 (Stone St, Station, 26 Walpole, MA): 1) In which on August 12, 1989 employee entered manhole to inspect cables and apply epoxy patch to a damaged sheath. Only an explosimeter was used prior to entry. On all entries no permits were established stating the atmospheric conditions or tests performed of the manholes nor was their present appropriate personal protective equipment i.e., retrieval lines. Employees are subject to the hazard of being asphyxiated due to the potential lack of oxygen at their work level. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to adequately test for oxygen concentration to ensure levels are between 19.5% and 21.4% and establish train, and enforce an adequate entry procedure such as that stipulated by NIOSH Criteria Document/ Publication No. 80-106, December 1979. A procedure would include incorporating a permit system, providing training and instructions to the hazards and outline safety procedures/ precautions of oxygen deficient atmospheres and other possible contaminants associated with their working environment.