OSHA Inspection: HOFFMAN CORTES CONTRACTING COMPANY

Issued

Jul 15, 1993

Abate by

Aug 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 15, 1993

Abate by

Aug 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 15, 1993

Abate by

Aug 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 15, 1993

Abate by

Aug 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $13,000 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 the hazards of confined space entry:
(a)  The employer did not provide employees involved in confined
space entry of process equipment or other enclosures, including
the leachate pit of the gas recovery building located at the
Laidlaw Waste Facility, 8225 Indiana, Kansas City, Missouri, an
adequate confined space entry procedure to protect employees from
possible overexposures to toxic substances, combustible gases or
vapors, and oxygen deficient atmospheres while performing
maintenance,
repairs, or installation of equipment.  During such
operations,
employees were or could potentially be exposed to the
hazards of asphyxiation due to low concentrations of oxygen inside
the leachate pit and to fire and explosion due to the presence of
explosive and/or flammable mixtures of gases (such as methane) or
vapors and oxygen inside of the work area.
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazard rests with
the employer, given his/her superior knowledge of the workplace,
one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard, among
others is to institute a formal confined space entry program.  A
minimally acceptable confine space entry procedure consists of the
following elements:
(1)  Written procedures covering a permit system,
ventilation,
atmospheric testing, rescue procedures, and employee
training;
(2)  The completion and posting of a 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 and necessary protective
measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of each
worker;
(3)  Mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior to
entry and continuous ventilation to provide a safe
atmosphere,
when determined necessary through the results of
atmospheric testing;
(4)  Testing the atmosphere of the confined space prior to
entry and frequently during occupancy for the presence of
sufficient oxygen (19.5), and absence of hazardous levels of
toxic or combustible gases or vapors;
(5)  Emergency rescue procedures with a requirement that
trained personnel are available and are stationed outside the
confined space with proper equipment to effect rescue of
persons
entering the space.  Such equipment must include safety
harness and lifelines with the provisions for hoisting
employees from the confined space.  If entry is necessary to
effect rescue, the rescuing employee must be equipped with
approved air supplied respiratory equipment and other
appropriate
personal protective equipment; and
(6)  Training of any and all employees required to enter the
confined spaces.  This training shall cover procedures
required prior to entry, the hazards associated with work in
confined spaces, and the proper utilization of protective
measures and equipment.
ABATEMENT NOTE
(1)  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods
suggested above.
(2)  The methods explained above are general and may not be
effective in all cases.
(3)  The employer is responsible for completed
characterization
of the hazards and the selection and implementation of
effective abatement methods.