OSHA Inspection: CONSOLIDATED EDISON CO. OF NEW YORK INC.

Issued

Aug 9, 1996

Abate by

Sep 26, 1996

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 being asphyxiated where oxygen had been displaced by carbon
dioxide in
an enclosed room, as in:
On or about February 15,1996:  On Narrows Barge Number Two, in the carbon
dioxide
room below deck, employees were exposed to the hazard of asphyxiation from
the
displacement of oxygen by carbon dioxide when the fire suppression system
discharged
carbon dioxide into the adjoining fuel skid room which migrated to the
carbon dioxide
storage room.  An employee entered the carbon dioxide room in order to
reset the
Jamesbury carbon dioxide distribution valve and associated plunger, and
was
asphyxiated
when he entered the hazardous atmosphere.
The employer failed to provide suitable safeguards to ensure prompt
evacuation, to
prevent entry into hazardous atmospheres and to provide means of prompt
rescue of
trapped personnel.
Reference:  National Fire Protection Association - Carbon Dioxide
Extinguishing Systems - 12/93 - Chapter 1-5.1.1 - Hazards to Personnel:
ABATEMENT:
Among others, reasonable and feasible abatement would be:
1.  To relocate the Jamesbury carbon dioxide distribution valves and
associated
plungers to a location where a hazardous atmosphere will not develop
subsequent
to a carbon dioxide release.
2.  To prevent employee entry into areas where carbon dioxide may be
present
until it is determined, through the use of appropriate monitoring
equipment
(either
continuous monitoring or manual direct reading instruments) that the
area(s) are
safe for human occupancy.
3.  To ensure, if entry into areas where hazardous concentrations of carbon
dioxide are present is necessary, that employees use the appropriate
respiratory
protective equipment (SCBA), in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134, including
emergency back up personnel.
4.  Train personnel in the proper procedures for responding to carbon
dioxide
releases including use and care of monitoring equipment, personal
protective
equipment, and safe work practices.
5.  Develop a means to prevent migration of carbon dioxide into other
areas of
the barges.
The National Fire Protection Association cautions against possible
exposure to carbon
dioxide in:
NFPA - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems - 12/93 - Chapter 1-5.1.1
Hazards to Personnel.  In any use of carbon dioxide, consideration shall be
given to the possibility that personnel could be trapped in or enter into
an
atmosphere made hazardous by a carbon dioxide discharge.  Suitable
safeguards
shall be provided to ensure prompt evacuation, to prevent entry into such
atmospheres, and to provide means of prompt rescue of any trapped
personnel.
Personnel training shall be provided.  Pre-discharge alarms shall be
provided
except as noted in 1-7.1(c) and 1-7.3.5.
NOTE: It is recommended that self contained breathing apparatus be
provided for rescue purposes.
(See NFPA chapter 1-5.1 referenced.)