OSHA Inspection: WICHITA TRUCK WASH

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to:
%%
(a) The employer did not provide employees involved in confined
space entry of equipment or other enclosures, including tank
trucks, an adequate confined space entry procedure to protect
employees from possible overexposure to toxic substances,
combustible gasses or vapors, and oxygen deficient atmospheres
while performing maintenance and/or cleaning.  During such
operations employees were or could potentially be exposed to the
hazards of asphyxiation due to low concentrations of oxygen
inside of the tank trucks, illness including, but not limited to
central nervous system depression, kidney damage, liver damage,
methemoglobinanemia and death from exposure to a variety of
chemicals such as light crude oil and hydrogen sulfide, and fire
or explosions, due to the presence of explosive and/or flammable
mixtures of gases or vapors and oxygen inside of the work ares.
%%
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others,
to correct this hazard is to institute a formal confined space
entry program.  A minimally acceptable confined space entry
procedure consists of the following elements:
%%
(1) Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation,
atmospheric testing, rescue procedures and employee training.
%%
(2)  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
implemented to ensure the safety of each worker.
%%
(3) Mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to entry
and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmospheric, when
determined necessary through the results of atmospheric testing.
%%
(4) Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to entry
and frequently during occupancy for the presence of sufficient
oxygen (19.5%) and absence of hazardous levels of toxic or
combustible gasses or vapors.
%%
(5) Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that trained
personnel are available and are stationed outside the confined
space with proper equipment to effect rescue of persons entering
the space.  Such equipment must include safety harness and
lifelines with provisions for hoisting employees from the
confined space.  If entry is necessary to effect rescue, the
rescuing employees must be equipped with approved air supplied
respiratory equipment and other appropriate personal protective
equipment.
%%
(6) Training of any and all employees required to enter the
confined spaces.  This training shall cover procedures required
prior to entry, the hazards associated with work in confined
spaces and the proper utilization of protective measures and
equipment.
%%
ABATEMENT NOTE:
%%
1.  The employer is not limited to the abate methods
suggested above.
%%
2.  The methods explained above are general and may not be
effective in all cases.
%%
3.  The employer is responsible for complete characterization
of the hazards and the selection and implementation of
effective abatement methods.
%%

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Dec 18, 1992

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Oct 5, 1992

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced