OSHA Inspection: ABLE INDUSTRIES

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 31, 1989

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

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 of asphyxiation.  Illnesses, fire and explosion:
a) Industrial Maintenance employees were required to enter confined
spaces, such as manholes, industrial underground tunnels and sewer
lines, and water storage tanks, that in some instances, limited
movement and were greater than ten feet deep, for cleaning,
unblocking, and removing sludge and excess water with hand tools and
powered suction type equipment; thereby exposingemployees to the
potential hazards of engulfment, oxygen deprivation, toxic gases,
energized systems, and enmeshment without appropriate precautions
or training.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods, as
listed in ANSI-Z117-77, to correct the hazard are, but are not limited
to development of written confined space entry permits, testing for
toxic gases that may be present such as hydrogen sulfide, testing for
oxygen deficiency, and explosive gases, testing of ventilation equipment
(gasoline powered) for carbon monoxide, training of personnel involved
in confined space entry in the physical hazards and health hazards and
symptoms of overexposure to gases that may be present in confined
spaces.  Training should also include specific rescue procedures that
could be required to remove an unconscious employee from a confined
space, such as a manlift or additional personnel.  Procedures should
be developed for use of standby person, use of a safety harness or
safety wrist harness, and lifelines.  Procedures should also be
developed for assuring isolation/lockout-out procedures (where
applicable), continuous ventilation (where applicable), and appropriate
selection, use, and training in personal protective equipment (where
applicable).

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 7, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Dec 3, 1988

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Jan 9, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Jan 23, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 7, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 7, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 7, 1989

Issued

Nov 30, 1988

Abate by

Mar 7, 1989