OSHA Inspection: GREDE FOUNDRIES INC., REEDSBURG DIVISION

Issued

Jun 25, 1987

Abate by

Jun 30, 1987

Penalty

Initial $8,000 · Current $1,000 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:
On or about March 3, 1987, while cleaning built-up sand off the sides
and corners of the interior walls of the Herman line sand silo,
employees were exposed to the hazards of asphyxiation, severe
crushing, multiple internal injuries and/or death due to lack of
oxygen, build-up of dangerous quantities of toxic gases and/or being
buried by sand from slides, cave-ins, or wall breakaways.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to
provide engineering controls that would eliminate the hazard by allowing
sand to be removed from the sides and corners of interior walls of the
sand silo without the need for employees to enter. Examples of such
controls would include the following:
a) Installing mechanical vibrators to loosen sand from the sides and
corners or the interior walls.
b) Use of air lances to blow sand from the sides and corners of the
interior walls by employees standing outside the silo.
c) Use of powered rotating whips to loosen sand from the sides and
corners of the interior walls by employees standing outside the silo.
If or when it becomes necessary for employees to physically enter the
sand silo, administrative controls for the cleaning and maintenance must
be established which contain the following elements for a confined space
entry program:
a) Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation, atmospheric
testing, rescue procedures and employee training.
b) 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
and potential hazards have been evaluated by a qualified person and
necessary protective measures have been taken to assure the safety
of each worker.
c) 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) 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 (b) above.
e) Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained personnel
are available and are stationed outside the confined space with
proper equipment to provide for rescue of persons entering the space
as determined necessary as described in (b) above. Such equipment
must include safety harnesses and lifelines with provisions for
hositing employees from the confined space. If entry is required for
rescue, the rescuing employee(s) must be equipped with a self
contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or other equivalent respiratory
protection plus other appropriate personal protective equipment.
f) Training of any and all employees required to enter the confined
space. This training shall include procedures required prior to
entry and the hazards associated with work in confined spaces. This
would include the wearing of a body harness and tended lifeline
attached to a hoist or jib; work practices for cleaning the silo
starting from the top and working down while tied off or otherwise
suspended and locking out of any moving agitators, belt or screw
conveyors before work is allowed to begin.