OSHA Inspection: GROW COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Aug 5, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employement 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 physiological effects of inhalation of a toxic substance
and/or to esphyxiation during entry or work in a confined space situa-
tion:
a)  Employee(s) enter reactors to hand clean the walls of
scorched residues from the nutrituional supplements produced
by fermentation or chemical changes induced by yeast
enzymes.  Access to the 500 gallon capacity reactors is by
ladder through an approximately 17 inch inside diameter
manhole opening at the top.  Employee(s) are exposed to a
potentially oxygen deficient atmoshere and asphyxiation;
and/or a flammable atmosphere from an oxygen enriched
atmosphere.
The hazardous work procedure was identified, on or about
March 11, 1992.
Abatement Note:
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method
to correct this hazard is to implement confined space entry procedures
as required in ANSI Z117.1-1989.
1)  A hazard identification including but not limited to, a review
of past and current uses of the confined space which may adversely
affect the atmosphere; the physical characteristics; existing
or potential hazards, potential for changing conditions;
strategies for controlling the hazards and the impact on the need
for emergency response.
2)  Confined space classification based on the evaluation of the
hazards by a qualified person as either a permit-required confined
space (PRCS) or non-permit confined space (NPCS).  Re-evaluation
of the hazards based on possible changes in activities, or
physical or environmental conditions which could adversely affect
the space.
3)  Pre-entry and continued testing of the atmosphere for sufficient
oxygen content and the presence of hazrdous air contaminants,
flammable and/or toxic gases, vapors or fumes.  Atmospheric
testing may be waived for non-permit confined spaces only if such
spaces are properly ventilated before and during occupancy and
it has been established through a formal hazard identification
and evaluation study that the ventilation is sufficient to guard
against atmospheric contamination.
4)  A qualified person shall determine personal protective equipment
needed by all personnel entering the confined space including
rescue teams.
5)  All energy sources which are potentially hazardous to confined
space entrants shall be secured, relieved, disconnected and/or
restrained before personnel are permitted to enter the confined
space.
6)  Attendant(s) shall be stationed outside any permit required
confined space.
7)  Appropriate retrieval equipment or methods shall be used whenever
a person enters a permit required confined space, unless the
retrieval equipment increases the overall risk of entry or does
not contribute to the rescue.
8)  Personnel responsible for supervising, planning, entering or
participating in confined space entry and rescue shall be
adequately trained in their functional duties prior to any
confined space entry.
9)  Periodic assessment of the effectiveness of employee training shall
be conducted by a qualified person.

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 29, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Apr 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 29, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 1, 1992

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Apr 27, 1992

Abate by

Jun 1, 1992