Text For Citation: 03 Item/Group: 002 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: a) The hazard of an oxygen-deficient atmosphere due to the products of the decomposition of sugar within the sugar Silo (#19) being cleaned or repaired by employees on or about February 8 through February 10, 1988. The Silo constitute confined spaces for which the company did not have safe procedures for entry and continued work; and the hazard of falling eleven feet for an employee inside the sugar silo standing on a platform between the augers due to lack of fall protection and the hazard of being struck from above by falling material causing the employee to fall into the bottom of the Silo. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce a safe confined space entry procedure. Essential elements of a confined space entry procedure and would include: 1) Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation, atmospheric testing, rescue procedures and employee training . 2) The completion and posting of a confined space entry permit which requires authorization and approval in writing that specifies the location and type of work to be done and certifies that all existing hazards have been evaluated by qualified person and necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of each worker. 3) Mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere, when determined necessary as described in (2) above. 4) Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry and on a regular basis for presence of sufficient oxygen (19.5%) and absence of hazardous levels of toxic or combustible gases or vapors, when determined necessary as described in (2) above. 5) Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained personnel are 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 determined in (2) above. Such equipment must include safety harness and life lines with provisions for hoisting employees from the confined space. If entry is required, for rescue, the rescuing employee must be equipped with approved air supplied respiratory equipment and other appropriate personal protective equipment. 6) Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined spaces. This training shall include procedures required prior to entry and the hazards associated with work in confined spaces.