OSHA Inspection: GMH ASSOCIATES

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Oct 3, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 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 oxygen deficient atmospheres
and paint vapors:
Norridgewock Sewage Plant, Tank - On or about, 08/25/04 an employees was
working in a tank that
was classified as a Permit Required Confined Space. The employee was spray
painting coal tar paint
that had been thinned with xylene on the top edge of the tank when he
became dizzy and lightheaded.
The employee left the tank to get fresh air and when he felt better
returned to the tank, climbed down
to the tank bottom to spray paint the bottom area of the tank. The
employee walked ten feet to a step
ladder when he became confused, disorientated, and lost consciousness. The
employer did have a
written Confined Space Program, but the following elements were not
followed:
a.Before the employee initially entered the space the internal atmosphere
was not tested
for oxygen content, flammable gases and vapors, and toxic air contaminates.
b.A Gas Free Certification Permit was not filled out.
c.There may be no hazardous atmospheres within the space whenever any
employee is
inside the space.
d.Forced air ventilation was not provided where an employee is or will be
present within
the space.
e.The atmosphere within the space was not periodically tested as necessary
to ensure that
the continuous forced air ventilation was preventing the accumulation of a
hazardous
atmosphere.
f.Communications equipment or devices were not used by the attendant and
entrant.
g.Rescue equipment was not readily available for entrant rescue. When the
local Fire
Department arrived at the scene the self contained breathing apparatus
provided to the
unconscious entrant by the attendant was empty. The entrant had a very
weak heart
beat and was barely breathing.
h.The attendant entered the space, twice, without wearing a self contained
breathing
apparatus during a rescue attempt.
i.The entrant was not wearing a chest or full body harness with a
retrieval line attached.
j.The employer did not have affected employees practice making permit
space rescues at
least once every 12 months.
k.The entrant was not properly trained in Permit Required Confined Space
requirements.
Approximately 15 minutes before the accident the entrant left the space
when he
became dizzy and lightheaded to get fresh air. The employees returned to
the space
without taking any precautions.

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 21, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Oct 3, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Oct 18, 2004

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Sep 15, 2004

Abate by

Sep 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced