OSHA Inspection: ABE'S PLUMBING AND HEATING, INCORPORATED

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

May 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

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 HAZARD OF METHANE AND/OR HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS AND OXYGEN DEFICIENT
ATMOSPHERES WHEN ENTERING SEWER MANHOLES TO UTILIZE THE LASER SIGHTING
UNIT. THE SEWER MANHOLES WERE CONNECTED TO AN EXISTING LIVE SEWEW LINE.
NO TESTING OF THE MANHOLE WAS CONDUCTED NOR WAS ANY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
PROVIDED/UTILIZED:
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD
TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE AND ADEQUATE
PLANT CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM SUCH AS THAT STIPULATED BY
ANSI Z117.1-1989, SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING IN TANKS AND
OTHER CONFINED SPACES. SUCH A PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, AS A MINIMUN,
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 WARNING SIGN AND 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 DESIGNATED BY THE EMPLOYER, AND NECESSARY PROTECTIVE MEASURES
HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EACH WORKER.
3) 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.
4) TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND ON
A REGULAR BASIS FOR PRESENCE OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN (19.5% TO 25%) AND
ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF TOXIC OR COMBUSTIBLE GASES OR VAPORS,
WHEN DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE.
5) EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT TRAINED
PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE 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 RESCUE, THE RESCUING EMPLOYEE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROVED AIR
SUPPLIED RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER APPROPIATE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT. NOTE: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS THE STANDY
PERSON TO ENTER THE CONFINED SPACED UNTIL ASSURED THAT ADEQUATE
ASSISTANCE IS PRESENT.
6) TRAINING OF ANY AND ALL EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER THE CONFINED
SPACE.  THIS TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE PROCEDURES REQUIRED PRIOR TO
ENTRY AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK IN CONFINED SPACES.

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

May 31, 1991

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

Jun 10, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

Jun 10, 1991

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

May 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

May 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

Jun 10, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450

Issued

May 10, 1991

Abate by

May 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750