OSHA Inspection: DEB-EL FOODS

Issued

Nov 25, 1992

Abate by

Nov 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $700

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
On or about 8/10/92, 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:
(1) asphyxiation from the hazards of oxygen deficiency and/or
dangerous
accumulations of toxic gases;
(2) slipping hazards which can result in injuries requiring emregency
removal of employees from vessels.  Emergency removal would be
hampered as such proceudres have not been developed and implemented:
a- Employees are required to enter tanker truck vessels to
clean liquid egg product from interior walls.  The vessels
have a 6000 gallon capacity.  The size of the manhole used for
entry is approximately 19 inches in diameter.  Condition noted
on or about August 10, 1992.
These hazards resulted from deficiencies in the company's vessel
entry procedures which included the following:
a- The tank atmosphere was nto tested for oxygen deficiency
and/or toxic air contaminants before employees are permitted
to enter.
b- A written permit system wa snot establihsed to certifiy
that all hazard shave been evaluated and communicated to
employees before entering the vessel.
c- Equipment necessary for safe entry, inclduign retrieval
lines and hranesses were not provided, maintained and used
during vessel entry.
d- Procedures were not implemenmted and equipmetn wa snot
provide dto rescue employees during emergencies.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to
correct these hazard is to establish a written confined space
entry program that will establish management controls over the
work being performed and shall contain as a minimum, but not
necessarily limited to, the following elements:
a- Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation,
atmopsheric testing, rescue procedures nad employee training.
b- The completion and posting of a confined space entry
permit which requires authorizatiuon and approval inw riting
that specified the location and type of work to be done and
certifies that all existing andpotential hazards havbe been
evaulated by a qualified person and necessary protective
measures have been taken to assure the safety of each worker.
c- Mechanical ventilation fo the confined space prior to
entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmosphere
when determined necessary as described in (b) above.
d- Testing of the atmopshere of the confined space prior
to entry and on a regular basis for the presence of
sufficient oxygen and absence of hazardous levels of toxic
gases when determined necessary as described in (b) above.
e- Emergency rescue procedures wuth a requirement that
trained personnel are avaulable and are stationed outside
the confiend space with proper equipment to provide rescue
of persons entering the confined space.  Such equipment must
include safety harnesses and liufelines with provisions for
hoisting employees from teh confined space.  If entry is
required for rescue, the rescuingf employee(s) must be
equipped with equivalent respiratory protection such as but
not limited to Self Contained Brewathing Apparatus (SCBA)
plus other appropriate personal proitective equipmetn.
f- Reinforce employee training on the hazards associated
with entering confined spaces and the methods that can take
to minimize them.  This would include the weraring of a body
harness and tended lifeline atached to a hoist or jib and
work practices to be following while cleaning out vessels.
g- Discontinue sending employees into tanker truck vessels
and install a clean in place (CIP) automated wash
operation.  Such systems are already in place for silos
located throughout the facility.