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 health and fire hazards during entry and hot work in confined spaces: a) Number 2 Cast Production Area - Employees were exposed to fire hazards from LP-gas and to possible atmosphere contamination by carbon monoxide while they lit LP-gas direct fired heaters (National-Riverside Co., A Division of Scheu Products Company, Inc., model 250) inside of steel forms used to power and cure concrete products. These molds constituted a confined space and the lighting of the heaters by match constituted hot work. The entire heater system for one of the two molds was physically located inside of this confined space while the employee(s) lit the heater. The heater system consisted of the heater unit, a Fisher controls regulator (type 67/684), fuel vapor hose and hose clamps. Appropriate confined space entry and hot work procedures (e.g. - locating the LP-gas cylinder outside of the confined space; hot work permit; atmospheric testing for oxygen deficiency, flammable vapors and toxic atmospheres; rescue and emergency stand-by provisions; etc.) were not implemented for the protection fire hazards during the entry into the interior of the concrete mold to light the LP-gas, direct fired heaters, on or about December 1, 1992. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to comply with the permit required confined spaces (29 CFR 1910.146), once finalized to protect employees who work in such confined spaces. During the interim period, the confined space entry program shall include, at a minimum, mandatory provisions for: 1. Instructions as to the nature of the hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relative to each confined space entry. 2. Posting of written confined space entry procedures adjacent to pits, tanks, vessels or other confined space areas which may be entered. 3. Use of cleaning, purging, and ventilating procedures to eliminate hazards associated with bulk material or toxic chemical residue prior to confined space entry. 4. Implementation of lockout and isolation procedures, where applicable, prior to confined space entry. 5. Where indicated by the nature of the potential hazards inside the confined space, use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of toxic air contaminants and oxygen deficient atmospheres prior to entry. 6. Where it has been determined that the confined space contains a hazardous air contaminant 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 hazards encountered. 7. Use of appropriate protective clothing, where applicable. 8. Provisions for a standby observer located immediately outside the confined space with a means of communication with the worker inside the confined space and 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 suitable respiratory protective equipment approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 10. Implementation of periodic training sessions relative to confined space entry, rescue and first-aid procedures. 11. Where indicated by the nature of the potential hazards inside the confined space, use of electrical equipment which is intrinsically safe or approved for hazardous (classified) locations.