OSHA Inspection: NEW ENGLAND PIPE CLEANING COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Apr 2, 1991

Abate by

Sep 9, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,800 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:
WALLINGFORD OFFICE: THE EMPLOYER DID NOT DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN
ADEQUATE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM THE
HAZARD OF ASPHYXIA WHEN THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER MANHOLES AND SEWERS
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR JOBS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO CORRECT THIS
HAZARD IS TO DEVELOP STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR SAFE ENTRY INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO:
1) ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES SHALL BY BY PERMIT ONLY
A) PERMIT SHALL CARRY THE DATE OF ENTRY AND AUTHORIZED DURATION OF
ENTRY
B) PERMIT SHALL BE SPECIFIC FOR THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED
C) PERMIT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE:
1) MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO CONTROL POTENTIAL HAZARDS
2) COMPLETE ISOLATION CHECKLIST
3) PRSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
4) ATMOSPHERIC TESTING EQUIPMENT WITH PROCEDURES FOR OPERATION AND
INTERPOLATION OF READINGS
5) ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
6) PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
7) DESIGNATION OF TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS AND STANDBY
PERSONNEL
8) COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
9) 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 SPACE SHALL BE PROHIBITED UNTIL INITIAL
TESTING OF THE ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED FROM THE OUTSIDE
AS FOLLOWS:
A) OXYGEN
B) FLAMMABLE GASES, % LOWER EXPLOSIVE LEVEL
C) TOXIC SUBSTANCES LEVEL
5) ALL ENTRANCES TO THE CONFINED SPACES SHALL BE POSTED, SIGNS 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 OR RADIO FROM WHICH EMERGENCY HELP WOULD BE
SUMMONED.
7) EMPLOYEES SHALL 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

Apr 2, 1991

Abate by

Apr 8, 1991

Issued

Apr 2, 1991

Abate by

May 7, 1991