OSHA Inspection: KEYSPAN ENERGY CORP.

Issued

Jan 16, 1991

Abate by

Feb 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

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
THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING WITH CONFINED SPACES:
A) NORTHPORT LILCO INSTALLATION-EMPLOYEES REPAIRING TUBE LEAKS ON THE
SLOPE AREA OF THE BOILER WERE PERMITTED TO DO SO WITHOUT THE BENEFIT
OF A PROPER CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE. EMPLOYEES ARE EXPOSED TO
THE HAZARD OF BEING TRAPPED BY THE INTERNAL CONFIGURATIOIN; ON OR
ABOUT 10/24/90.
B) NORTHPORT LILCO INSTALLATION-EMPLOYEES CLEANING OUT THE HEAT
EXCHANGER OF THE BOILER ARE PERMITTED TO DO SO WITHOUT THE BENEFIT
OF A PROPER CONFINED SPACE PRECEDURE. EMPLOYEES ARE EXPOSED TO THE
HAZARDS OF STEAM, HOT WATER AND POSSIBLE ACCUMULATION OF SEA DEBRIS
IN THE EXCHANGE; ON OR ABOUT 10/24/90.
C) NORTHPORT LILCO INSTALLATION-EMPLOYEES CLEANING OUT AND PERFORMING
GENERAL MAINTENANCE IN THE HEAT EXCHANGER WATER TUNNEL APPROXIMATELY
400 FEET LONG AND 6 FEET IN DIAMETER, WERE PERMITTED TO DO SO WITHOUT
THE BENEFIT OF A PROPER CONFINED SPACE PROCEDURE. EMPLOYEES ARE
EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF LOW OXYGEN CONTENT THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERGROUND TUNNELS; ON OR ABOUT 10/24/90.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE ADEQUATE CONFINED SPACE
ENTRY PROCEDURES SUCH AS THAT STIPULATED BY ANSI Z117.1-1989, AMERICAN
NATIONAL STANDARDS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFINED SPACES. ESSENTIAL
ELEMENTS OF CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM:
1) POSTING OF WRITTEN CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES ADJACENT TO PITS,
TANKS, VESSELS OR OTHER CONFINED SPACE AREAS WHICH MAY BE ENTERED.
2) USE OF CLEANING, PURGING, AND VENTILATING PROCEDURES TO REMOVE SLUDGE
AND OTHER RESIDUE PRIOR TO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY.
3) IMPLEMENTATION OF ESTABLISHED LOCKOUT/TAGOUT AND ISOLATION
PROCEDURES, WHERE APPLICABLE, AND ISSUANCE OF A PROPER ENTRY PERMIT
PRIOR TO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY.
4) USE OF APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, WHERE APPLICABLE.
5) PROVISIONS FOR A STANDBY OBSERVER LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CONFINED SPACE
INCLUDING A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE WORKER INSIDE THE
CONFINED SPACE AND A MEANS OF OBTAINING IMMEDIATE HELP IN AN
EMERGENCY.
6) PROVISION AND PROCEDURES FOR READILY AVAILABLE EMERGENCY STANDBY
EQUIPMENT CONSISTING OF A SAFETY LINE AND HARNESS ARRANGEMENT AND A
SELF-CONTAINED POSITIVE PRESSURE BREATHING APPARATUS CERTIFIED BY
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUAPTIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH)
AND THE MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (MSHA).
7) IMPLEMENTATION OF PERIODIC TRAINING SESSIONS FOR EMPLOYEES RELATIVE
TO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY, RESCUE, AND FIRST-AID PROCEDURES.

Issued

Jan 16, 1991

Abate by

Feb 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $350