OSHA Inspection: EFFLUENT ENGINEERING, INCORPORATED

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Feb 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

General-duty citation text

THE ALLEAGED VIOLATIONS BELOW HAVE BEEN GROUPED BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE
SIMILAR OR RELATED HAZARDS THAT MAY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY
RESULTING FROM AN ACCIDENT.
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 FORM 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 OXYGEN DEFICIENCY AND/OR FLAMMABLE AND TOXIC ATMOSPHERE
INSIDE A 10,000 GALLON TANK. ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 15, 1991. AN EMPLOYEE
ENTERED THE 10,000 GASOLINE TANK, A CONFINED SPACE, AFTER DETERMING
OXYGEN LEVELS TO BE APPROXIMATELY 15.8 PER CENT. SUITABLE EMERGENCY
RESCUE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT PROVIDED NOR HAD EMPLOYEES BEEN PROVIDED
TRAINING ON THE PROPER USE AND LIMITATIONS OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND
THE HAZARD OF WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE AN ADEQUATE PLANT
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM SUCH AS THAT STIPULATED BY ANSI Z1117.1-19
89, SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING IN TANKS AND OTHER CONFINED SPACES.
SUCH A PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, AS A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
1) WRITTEN PROCEDURES COVERING A PERMIT SYSTEM, VENTILATIONS,
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 EXISTING AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY A QUALI-
FIED PESON AND NECESSARY PROTECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EACH WORKER.
3) LOCKOUT, BLOCKING, STOPPING AND REDUCING MACHINES TO ZERO MECHANICAL
AND THERMAL STATE OF ALL MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, LIQUID AND GAS
SYSTEMS RELATING TO THE CONFINED SPACE THAT MAY CREAT A HAZARD
DURING ENTRY SHOULD THESE SYSTEMS BE OUT IN MOTION OR OTHERWISE
ACTIVATED.
A WORKER INDIVIDUAL LOCK IS TO BE APPLIED AND A UNIQUE AND SITUATION
TAG SHALL BE ATTACHED TO THE LOCK AND ENERGIZING CONTROLS.
4) MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND
CONTINUED VENTILATION TO PROVIDE A SAFE ATMOSPHERE. WHEN DETERMINED
NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE.
5) TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND ON A
REGULAR BASIS FOR PRESENCE OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN (19.5%) AND ABSENCE
OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF TOXIC OR COMBUSTIBLE GASES OR VAPORS, WHEN
DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE.
6) EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT TRAINED PERSONNEL
ARE AVAILABLE AND AND ARE STATIONED OUTSIDE THE CONFINED SPACE WITH
PROPER EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESCUE OF PERSONS ENTERING THE
SPACE AS DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE. SUCH
EQUIPMENT MUST INCLUDE SAFETY HARNESS AND LIFE LINES WITH PROVISIONS
FOR HOISTING EMPLOYEES FROM THE CONFINED SPACE. IF ENTRY IS REQUIRED
FOR A RESCUE, THE RESCUING EMPLOYEE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROVED
AIR SUPPLIED RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER APPROPRIATE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
7) TRAINING OF ANY AND ALL EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER THE CONFINED
SPACES. THIS TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE PROCEDURES REQUIRED PRIOR TO
ENTRY AND THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK IN CONFINED SPACES.

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Feb 24, 1991

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 FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS IN THAT:
ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 15,1991, EMPLOYEES WERE USING A GAS OPERATED CHOP
SAW TO CUT AN OPENING IN A 10,000 GALLON GASOLINE TANK FOR THE PURPOSE
OF ENTERING AND REMOVING GASOLINE RESIDUE. NO TESTING WAS CONDUCTED TO
DETERMINE THE CONCENTRATION OF FLAMMABLE VAPORS AND/OR GASES PRIOR TO
INITIATION OF THE WORK NOR WERE THE EMPLOYEES FAMILIAR WITH CLEANING
PROCEDURES, POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND METHODS FOR THEIR CONTROL.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTVABLISH AND ENFORCE AN ADEQUATE HOT WORK
PROCEDURE SUCH AS THAT STIPULATED BY ANSI Z117.101989, SAFTEY
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING IN TANKS AND OTHER CONFINED SPACES AS FOLLOWS:
6.1 PRECAUTIONS  BEFORE STARTING HOT WORK
6.1.1 HOT WORK SHALL NOT BE STARTED IN OR ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF A
CONFINED SPACE UNTIL A PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY A QUALIFIED AND
AUTHORIZED PERSON;
6.1.2 WHEN A CONFINED SPACE THAT HAS CONTAINED A FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTI
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID, VAPOR, OR GAS IS TO BE GAS FREED BY CLEANING,
THE PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED ONLY AFTER A QUALIFIED PERSON HAS,
THROUGH INSPECTION AND TEST, ENSURED THAT THE FOLLOWING
REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED;
1) THE CONCENTRATION OF FLAMMABLE VAPORS OR GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE
IS BELOW 10% OF THE LFL.
2) THE LIQUID AND SOLID RESIDUES HAVE BEEN REMOVED AS NECESSARY TO
PREVENT THE RELEASE OF FLAMMABLE VAPORS OR GASES THAT WILL RAISE
THE CONCENTRATION ABOVE 10% OF THE LFL.
3) ALL PIPING WITHIN THE CONFINED SPACE HAS BEEN FLUSHED WITH WATER,
WATER, OR BLOWN WITH STEAM OR AIR, AND HAS BEEN FOUND BY TEST NOT TO
CONTAIN CONCENTRATIONS OF FLAMMABLE VAPOR OR GAS ABOVE 10% OF THE
LFL.
6.1.3 WHEN THE FLAMMABLE ATMOSPHERE IS TO BE CONTROLLED IN A CONFINED
SPACE BY INERTING. THE PROVISIONS OF AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD
CONTROL OF GAS HAZARDS ON VESSELS TO BE REPAIRED,
ANSI/NFPA NO. 306-1975, SHALL BE MET.

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Feb 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Feb 26, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Mar 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Mar 22, 1991

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Mar 22, 1991

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Mar 22, 1991

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Mar 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $80 · Current $80

Issued

Feb 21, 1991

Abate by

Feb 28, 1991