Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Under Sections 17(a) and 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 the hazard of asphyxiation: At the construction site for the Telfair Correctional Facility - Employees of Associated Mechanical Contractors, Inc. were allowed to enter into a hot water supply and return system (valve pit number 3) which contained a sufficient amount of tracer gas (90% argon/10% methane) to form an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Pit was not properly ventilated nor tested for oxygen deficiency and lifelines, along with safety harnesses, were not worn by the employees entering the vessel, on or about 10/16/90.