Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001A 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 recogn ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that, employees were exposed to the hazard of oxygen deficienc y and/or dangerous accumulations of toxic substances during confined space entry : On or about March 29, 2002, an employee entered a lift station containing raw sewage to repair a broken discharge line and passed out falling into the liquid sewage. The employer had not implemented the Confined Space Program they had dev eloped several years earlier. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable a batement method to correct this hazard is to establish and implement a confined space program such as that specified in ANSI Z117.1-1995. Such a program shall i nclude, as a minimum, the following elements: 1.Develop and utilize effective procedures for confined space entry including, b ut not limited to, using a permit system, ventilation, atmospheric testing, resc ue procedures, employee training, designation of qualified people for standby an d emergency procedures. 2.The completion and posting of a confined space entry p ermit which requires authorization and approval in writing that specifies that a ll existing hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person and the necessary protective measures have been taken to ensure the safety of each worker. 3.Blind ing, blocking, bleeding, purging, lockout or any other steps necessary to reduce to and ensure zero mechanical and thermal state all mechanical, electrical, hyd raulic, pneumatic, liquid and gas systems relating to the confined space should any of these systems be put in motion or otherwise activated. 4.Mechanical venti lation of the confined space prior to entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere, when determined necessary as described in (2) above. 5.Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry and on a regular b asis for the presence of sufficient oxygen and absence of hazardous levels or to xic or combustible gases or vapors, when determined necessary as described in (2 ) above. 6.Emergency rescue procedures with requirement that trained personnel a re available and are stationed outside the confined space with proper equipment to provide for the rescue of persons entering the space as determined necessary as described in (2) above. Such equipment must include safety harness and life l ines with provisions for hoisting employees from the confined space. If entry is required for a rescue, the rescuing employee must be equipped with approved air supplied respiratory equipment and other appropriate personal protective equipm ent. 7.Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined space an d all employees required to standby for rescue. This training shall include proc edures required prior to entry, during occupation of the confined space, procedu res for safe rescue of employees in the confined space and the hazards associated with work in confined spaces.