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: (a) On or about the weeks of 1/6/92 through 1/20/92 at the Montana Sulphur and Chemical Company, 627 Exxon Road, Billings, Montana, employees were exposed to potential flammable, toxic, and oxygen deficient atmospheres as well as potential hazards which could be encountered during rescue. Personnel were engaged in removing catalyst from the green hydrogen sulfide reactor without the benefit of comprehensive confined space entry procedures in that elements such as, but not limited to, the following were not addressed: 1) Sufficient hazard identification and evaluation processes were not in place. 2) A confined space entry permit system was not in place. 3) Proper testing for flammable atmospheres was not done prior to and during confined space entry. 4) An emergency response rescue program was not in place. 5) Proper training of personnel was not conducted. (b) For two to three days in December of 1991 at the Montana Sulphur and Chemical Company, 627 Exxon Road, Billings, Montana, employees were exposed to potential flammable, toxic, and oxygen deficient atmospheres as well as hazards which could be en- countered during rescue. Personnel were engaged in removing catalyst from the green hydrogen sulfide reactor without the benefit of comprehensive confined space entry procedures in that elements such as, but not limited to, the following were not addressed: 1) Sufficient hazard identification and evaluation processes were not in place. 2) A confined space entry permit system was no in place. 3) Proper testing for flammable atmospheres was not done prior to and during confined space entry. 4) An emergency rescue program was not in place. 5) Proper training of personnel was not conducted. (c) Montana Sulphur and Chemical Company, 627 Exxon Road, Billings, Montana: on or about February 1, 1992, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to potential flammable, toxic, and oxygen deficient atmospheres as well as hazards which could be encountered during rescue. Personnel were engaged in cleaning caustic material from old sulfur railcars without the benefit of comprehensive confined space entry procedures in that elements such as, but not limited to, the following were not addressed: 1) Sufficient hazard identification and evaluation processes were not in place. 2) A confined space entry permit system was not in place. 3) Appropriate ventilation procedures were not followed. 4) An emergency response rescue program was not in place. 5) Proper training of personnel was not conducted. (d) During the months of October or November, 1991, at the Montana Sulphur and Chemical Company, 627 Exxon Road, Billings, Montana, employees were exposed to potential flammable, toxic, and oxygen deficient atmospheres as well as potential hazards which could be encountered during rescue. Personnel were engaged in cleaning caustic from the NASH reactor without the benefit of comprehensive confined space entry procedures in that elements such as, but not limited to, the following were not addressed: 1) Sufficient hazard identification and evaluation processes were not in place. 2) A confined space entry permit system was not in place. 3) Appropriate ventilation procedures were not followed. 4) An emergency response rescue program was not in place. 5) Proper training of personnel was not conducted. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the above described hazards is the implementation of a confined space entry program in accordance with ANSI Z 117.1-1989.