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 required to enter confined spaces which could contain toxic, flammable, or oxygen deficient atmospheres, and they were not provided with a Confined Space Entry Program: a) Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility, Westerly, Rhode Island: Employees required to enter each of the outlying wastewater pump station control rooms, pump rooms, and wet walls were not protected by confined space procedures which included at a minimum the following precautions: 1) Air monitoring for toxic, flammable and oxygen deficient atmospheres, each time employees entered can stations and wet wells to assurethat employees were not entering hazardous atmospheres. 2) Entry permits issued by Supervisory Personnel which outlines specific job functions and time periods for which confined space entry would be permitted. 3) Standby personnel equipped with lifelines, emergency rescue equipment and communication systems which would provide continuous communications with the employee in the confined space and emergency communications to additional rescue workers. 4) Training for all employes involved in confined space entry and rescue operations in all aspects of the program including hands on rescue drills, protective equipment usage, air testing equipment use and calibration, emergency communication procedures, and emergency first aid, and CPR. This facility (formerly operated by YWC, Inc.) was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard which was contained in OSHA inspection number 18260380 citation number 1, item number 1, issued on 5/18/90.