OSHA Inspection: WEST INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-10-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $800.00 · Current $800.00

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) Heat Treatment Plant, furnace areas, employees were exposed to
potential asphyxiation and toxic gas poisoning due to oxygen
deficiency or toxic atmosphere when entering confined spaces, e.g.
performing maintenance-repair work in Midland Ross "surface" furnace
#2 gas furnace SN# BC42264 (a confined space) on 7/11/90.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct these hazards is to establish and enforce and adequate plant
confined space entry procedure such as that stipulated by ANSI Z117.1-
1989. American National Standard for Working in Tanks and Other
Confined Spaces. Essential elements of this confined space entry
procedure would include:
1) Hazard identification. Identify and evaluate each hazard of the
permit spaces, including determination of severity;
2) Hazard control. Establish and implement the means, procedures and
practices by which the permit spaces can be entered safely;
3) Permit system. Establish a written permit system for the proper
preparation, issuance and implementation of entry permits.
4) Employee information. Signs shall be posted near permit spaces to
notify employees what hazards may be presnet and that only
authorized entrants may enter the permit spaces;
5) Prevention of unauthorized entry. Prevent unauthorized employee
entry through such measures as training or by posting signs and
barriers, as necessary;
6) Employee training. Train employees so that attendants, authorized
entrants and personnel authorizing or in charge of entry can work
safely in and around the permit space;
7) Equipment. Provide, maintain and ensure the proper use of the
equipment necessary for safe entry, including testing, monitoring,
communication and personal protective equipment.
8) Rescue. Ensure that the procedures and equipment necessary to rescue
entrants from permit speaces are implemented and provided;
9) Protection from external hazards. Ensure that all pedestrian, vehicle
or other barriers necessary to protect entrants from external hazards
re provided;
10) Duty to other employers. Ensure that, when an employer, such as a
contractor, plans to send employees into a permit space which is
under the control of another employer (host employer), the host
employer provides the contractor with available information on permit
space hazards; on efforts to comply with this standard; and on any
other workplace hazards, safety rules and emergency procedures of
which the contractor needs to be aware of.

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $500.00 · Current $500.00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-10-29 00:00:00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $400.00 · Current $400.00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-07-31 00:00:00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-29 00:00:00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $800.00 · Current $800.00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-29 00:00:00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-06 00:00:00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-08-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $400.00 · Current $400.00

Issued

1990-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $200.00 · Current $200.00