UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Text For Citation: 01 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 exposed to the physiological effects of inhalation of a toxic substance and/or asphyxiation during entry or work in a confined space situation: a) At TCI Corporation in Ghent, NY: Two employees were exposed to a toxic atmosphere while working inside a confined space on February 28, 1989. The two employees were cleaning the inside of a transformer "can" with trichlorotrifloroethane (Freon 113) when one employee was overcome by the vapors. The transformer "can" was from Boston Edison. Its base dimensions were 11'6" (length) x6'4" (width) x 10' (height), and oval in shape. Its approximate volume is 700 cubic feet. The only open side of the "can" was the top. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a confined space entry procedure which includes, but is not limited to the following: 1) Instruction as to the nature of the hazards involved and necessary precautions to be taken relative to confined space entry. 2) Posting of confined space entry procedures adjacent to pits, tanks, vessels, or other confined space areas which may be entered. 3) Use of cleaning, purging, and ventilating procedures to remove sludge and other residues prior to confined space entry. 4) Use of atmospheric testing procedures to determine the presence of hazardous air contaminants and potential oxygen deficiency prior to entry into and while working on the confined space. 5) Where it has been determined that the confined space contains a hazardous concentration of an air contaminant and/or an oxygen deficiency, use of mechanically-induced ventilation in the confined space before entry and during occupancy and/or use of respiratory protective equipment which provides adequate protection against the hazards encountered shall be employed. 6) Provisions for a standby observer located outside the confined space with a means of communication with the worker inside the confined space and a means of obtaining immediate help in an emergency. 7) Provisions and procedures for readily available emergency standby equipment consisting of a safety line and harness arrangement and a self-contained breathing apparatus certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 8) Implementation of periodic training sessions relative to confined space entry, rescue and first aid procedures.