OSHA Inspection: CAN AM INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Jul 13, 1988

Abate by

Jul 25, 1988

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $432 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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) On or about March 23, 1988 an employee entered the crystal silo, a
confined space, and a minimal confined space entry procedure as
outlined in abatement methods was not followed and there was no
lock/out/tagout procedure in effect to protect the employee from
possible overexposure to toxic substances including sulfuric acid,
combustible gases or vapors, oxygen deficient atmospheres and being
caught in rotating parts or covered in acid while performing
maintenance and/or repairs.
b) On or about June 2, 1988 and employee entered the acid recovery tank,
a confined space, and a minimal confined space entry procedure as
outlined in the following abatement methods was not followed except
for standby person and rescue equipment and there was no lockout/
tagout procedure in effect to protect the employee from possibleover
exposure to toxic substances including sulfuric acid, combustible
gases or vapors, oxygen deficient atmospheres, and being caught in
rotating parts or covered in acid while performing maintenance and/or
repairs.
During these operations, employees were or could potentially be
exposed to the hazards of asphyxiation due to low concentrations of
oxygen inside the tanks and silo, illness including but not limited
to nervous system damage, death, acute skin and pulmonary damage from
sulfuric acid exposure, fire or explosions due to the potential
presence of explosive mixtures of gases or vapors and oxygen inside
of process equipment, and being caught in rotating parts inside of
the acid recovery tank and/or being covered with acid should the tank
be filled during entry.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct these hazards should include:
1) Eliminate confined space entry into chip silo for cleaning off chips
adhering to walls by utilizing vibrators to shake off encrusted
chips. Lock out the chip silo to prevent entry.
2) Eliminate confined space entry into acid separation tanks for
cleaning of residue adhering to walls by flushing the system with a
hot load.
3) Institute a formal confined space entry program such as that
stipulated by ANSI Z117.1-1977, American National Standard of Safety
Requirements for Working in Tanks and other Confined Spaces. A
minimally acceptable confined space entry procedure consists of the
following elements:
a) Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation, atmospheric
testing, rescue procedure, and employee training.
b) Employees shall be required to obtain and post a written
authorization signed by a supervisor prior to confined space entry
(confined space entry permit). The permit shall specify the location
and type of work to be done and certifies that all existingand
potential hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person and
necessary protective measures have been taken to ensure the safety
of each worker.
c) Provide mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to entry
and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere when
determined necessary as described in (b) above.
d) Test the confined space prior to entry and on a regular basis as
determined necessary as described in (b) above during occupancy for
the presence of at least 19.5% oxygen and/or presence of toxic
substances. Testing shall be conducted during the same time for
levels of flammable vapors, to be maintained below 10% of the lower
explosive limit. Measurements shall be made with instruments
calibrated daily according to manufacturer's instructions. Instrument
operators shall be trained in the use and care of instruments.
e) Lockout and tagout procedures shall be used for any electrical or
mechanical equipment to which an employee in a confined space could
be exposed.
f) Personal protective equipment such as respiratory protection shall be
chosen and provided on the basis of testing and monitoring. Users of
this equipment shall be trained in its limitations and use.
Respiratory protection shall be used in accordance with section 1910.
134 of 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Standards.
g) Require a person to stand by for rescue outside the confined space to
be in immediate contact with the employee in the confined space.
h) Emergency rescue procedures shall be established with a requirement
that the stand-by person is stationed outside of the confined space
with proper equipment to provide for the rescue of theperson
entering the space. Such equipment shall include safety harness and
lifelines with provisions for hoisting the employee from the confined
space. If entry is required for rescue, the rescuing employee shall
be equipped with approved air supplied respiratory equipment and
other appropriate personal protective equipment.
i) Employees who are required to work in a confined space, and the
stand-by person shall be trained in all aspects of the confined
space program.
j) Assignment of a competent individual to ensure enforcement of the
confined space entry procedures, adequate training of the employees
involved in confined space entry, and proficiency in the use of
protective equipment.
4) Establish and enforce an adequate plant lockout procedure such as
that stiuplated by Z244.1, Section 4 and 5, American National
Standard of Minimum Safety Requirements for Lockout/Tagout of Energy
Sources for Personnel Protection. Essential elements of the lockout
procedure would include:
a) Analize all machines and process equipment and determine the thermal,
electrical, mechanical, and nip points hazards which are present.
Establish and document the procedures which will be used in
performing maintenace and operation of machines.
b) At the start of work, switch off and use a worker individual lock on
the electric control switch to prevent re-energizing the machine.
After switch off, assure that the electric circuits are proven de-
energized, a unique and situation information tag shall be attached
to the lock and machine energizing control. This lock provision shall
not be required where the worker by his immediate proximity to the
electrical control switch (within reach) prevents inadvertent switch
on by others.
c) All other fluid energy power sources which can produce movements of
machine members shall be locked off. Pressurized fluids (air or
liquid) shall be closed off from the machine through the use of shut
off valves, and the supply lines toward the machines reduced in
pressure to atmosphere or the machine blocked against possible
movement. All pressure-fluid accumulators and air surge tanks within
the machine shall be reduced to atmospheric pressure or the machine
blocked against possible movement. All machine temperature and
pressure sensors and gauges shall be maintained to always provide an
accurate status reading of the machine.
d) All mechanical gravity fall potential energy within the machine shall
be reduced to zero, or as nearly so as possible, by lowering elevated
machine parts to the floor, solid surfaces or by cribbing and
blocking them to prevent the machine parts from falling.
e) All mechanical kinetic rotating machine energy within the machine
shall be reduced to zero, or as nearly as possible, by slowing the
rotating parts to a stop. In the alternate the worker shall be
guarded from the rotating parts by installing temporary guards. Loose
machine parts including machine parts, arms, knives, etc., shall be
blocked or secured to prevent possible injury to workers.
f) Establish written procedures designed to instruct and train employees
in recognition of hazards and proper safe shut down of machines.
Disclaimers:
a) The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested
by OSHA.
b) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.
c) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.

Issued

Jul 6, 1988

Abate by

Jul 19, 1988

Issued

Jul 6, 1988

Abate by

Aug 1, 1988

Issued

Jul 6, 1988

Abate by

Aug 1, 1988

Issued

Jul 6, 1988

Abate by

Jul 9, 1988