OSHA Inspection: THE IRWIN COMPANY

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Apr 18, 1991

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $400 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) EMPLOYEES ENTERING CONFINED SPACES SUCH AS THE PIT AREA ADJACENT TO
THE OIL STORAGE TANKS NEAR THE NORTH CENTER OF THE PLANT ARE EXPOSED
TO POTENTIAL TOXIC, FLAMMABLE AND/OR OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERES.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE AN 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 EVAULATE EACH HAZARD OF THE
THE PERMIT SPACES, INCLUDING DETERMINATION OF SEVERITY;
2) HAZARD CONTROL. ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT THE MEANS, PROCEDURES AND
AND PRACTICES BY WHICH THE PERMIT SPACES CAN BE ENTERED SAFETY;
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 PRESENT AND THAT ONLY AUTHORIZED
ENTRANTS MAY ENTER THER PERMIT SPACES;
5) PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY. PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE ENTRY
THROUGH SUCH MEASURS AS TRAINING OR BY POSTING SIGNS AND BARRIES, AS
NECESSARY;
6) EMPLOYEE TRAINING. TRAIN EMPLOYEES SO THAT ATTENDANTS, AUTHORIZED
ENTRANTS AND PERSONNEL AUTHORIZING OR IN CHARGE OF ENTRY CAN WORK
SAFETY 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,
COMMUNICATON AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
8) RESCUE. ENSURE THAT THE PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO RESCUE
ENTRANTS FROM PERMIT SPACES ARE IMPLEMENTED AND PROVIDED;
9) PRETECTION FROM EXTERNAL HAZARDS. ENSURE THAT ALL PEDSTRIAN. VEHICLE
OR OTHER BARRIERS NECESSARY TO PROTECT ENTRANTS FROM EXTERNAL
HAZARDS ARE 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 (HOST EMPLOYER), THE HOST EMPLOYER
PROVIDESTHE 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 NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Apr 18, 1991

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $335 Reduced

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Mar 18, 1991

Penalty

Initial $320 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Mar 18, 1991

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $280 Reduced

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Mar 18, 1991

Penalty

Initial $320 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Feb 16, 1991

Penalty

Initial $240 · Current $165 Reduced

Issued

Feb 13, 1991

Abate by

Mar 18, 1991