Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 003A Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer does not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including but not limited to, the requirements specified in 1910.146(d)(3)(i) through 1910.146(d)(3)(vi): The employer does not protect employees from hazards associated with permit-required confined spaces by developing and implementing the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit-required confined space entry operations: (a) On or about March 10, 2014, the employer had not developed or implemented the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations in the shredder discharge pit containing takeaway conveyor #1. Employees entered the pit to perform cleaning activities with the unguarded takeaway conveyor #1 in operation. i) The permit-required confined space was not isolated from the hazards of the shredder and the takeaway #1 conveyor system. ii) Additionally, other necessary means, procedures and practices were not developed and implemented for such elements as defining and verifying acceptable entry conditions, atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, communication, lighting, ingress and egress, and rescue and emergency services. To abate this violation, the employer must develop, document, and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit-required confined space entry operations specific to each space entered at the facility. This must include, but is not limited to, specification of acceptable entry conditions, providing entrant(s) with the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing, isolation of the permit space from hazards associated with the release of energy or material, elimination or control of atmospheric hazards, protection of entrants from external hazards, and verification that conditions are acceptable for entry throughout the period of authorized entry. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan within 25 days of the final order date identifying the steps being taken to achieve abatement, including a schedule for completing abatement, and what it is doing to protect employees until abatement has been completed (An abatement plan and periodic progress reports may also be required if the abatement period is more than 90 days). ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF 29 CFR 1903.19(d).