OSHA Inspection: CONNECTICUT METALLURGICAL PROCESSES, INC.

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $850 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 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
asphyxiation, chemical intoxication and explosion:
BRIDGEPORT PLANT: THE EMPLOYER DID NOT DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ADEQUATE
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM THE HAZARDS
OF ASPHYXIATION, CHEMICAL INTOXICATION AND EXPLOSION WHEN THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO ENTER THE FIREBOXES OF HEAT TREATING MACHINES IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR JOBS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO CORRECT
THESE HAZARDS IS TO DEVELOP STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR SAFE ENTRY INTO
FIRE BOXES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
1) ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE BY PERMIT ONLY.
A) PERMIT SHALL CARRY THE DATE OF ENTRY AND SUTHORIZED DURATION
OF ENTRY.
B) PERMIT SHALL BE SPECIF FOR THE LOCATION AND THE TYPE OF WORK
TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
C) PERMIT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE:
I. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO CONTROL POTENTIAL HAZARDS
II. COMPLETE ISOLATION CHECKLIST
III. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
IV. ATMOSPHERIC TESTING EQUIPMENT WITH PROCEDURES FOR OPERATION
AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
V. ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
VI. PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
VII. DESIGNATION OF TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS AND STANDBY
PERSONNEL
VIII. COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
IX. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND LOCATION
OF FIRST AID KIT
2) PERSONNEL SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY HARNESSES, SAFETY LINES
AND/OR EQUIVALENT RETRIEVAL GEAR TO RESCUE PERSONS FROM HAZARDOUS
ATMOSPHERES.
3) A STANDBY PERSON WITH SUITABLE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS
SHALL BE AT THE NEAREST FRESH AIR BASE FOR EMERGENCY RESCUE.
COMMUNICATION SHALL BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN ALL PERSONS PRESENT.
4) ENTRY INTO THE CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE PROHIBITED UNTIL INITIAL
ESTING OF THE ATMOSPHERES HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED FROM THE OUTSIDE
AS FOLLOWS:
A) OXYGEN
B) FLAMMABLE GASES/PERCENT LOWER EXPLOSIVE LEVEL
C) TOXIC SUBSTANCES LEVELS
D) TEMPERATURE
5) ALL ENTRANCES TO CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE POSTED. SIGN SHALL INCLUDE:
DANGER
CONFINED SPACE
ENTRY BY PERMIT ONLY
6) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF POLICE AND
FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, SHALL BE POSTED
CONSPICUOUSLY WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE AREAS OF THE CONFINED SPACE(S)
OR AT THE TELEPHONE FROM WHICH EMERGENCY HELP WILL BE SUMMONED.
7) EMPLOYEES SHAL REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR SAFE ENTRY AND EMERGENCY
EXIT BEFORE ENTERING CONFINED SPACES. GUIDELINES SHALL ADDRESS:
A) ATMOSPHERIC TESTING
B) PURGING AND VENTILATION
C) ISOLATION/LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
D) GAS SOURCE DISCONNECTION
E) CLEANING
F) EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS REQUIRED

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $850 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $650 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $850 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Sep 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Oct 15, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Jul 22, 1991

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jun 26, 1991

Abate by

Aug 12, 1991

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced