OSHA Inspection: ACTION CIRCUITS INCORPORATED

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $360

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
methylene chloride vapors:
WASTE TREATMENT AREA: EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED TO ENTER A CONFINED
SPACE (#1 3,000-GALLON WASTE TREATMENT HOLDING TANK) CONTAINING
UNKNOWN CONCENTRATIONS OF METHYLENE CHLORIDE AND/OR OXYGEN WHICH
COULD RESULT IN UNCONSCIOUSNESS OR ASPHYXIATION.
A FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHOD TO ABATE THIS HAZARD IS TO FOLLOW STANDARD
PROCEDURES FOR SAFE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
1) ENTRY INTO THE TANK SHALL BE BY PERMIT ONLY. THERE WILL BE NO
EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
2) THE PERMIT SHALL BE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TYPE OF CONFINED
SPACE INVOLVED. THE PERMIT SHALL INCLUDE THINGS, SUCH AS BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
a) LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK TO BE DONE.
b) HAZARDS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED.
c) SPECIAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT.
d) ATMOSPHERIC TEST READING.
1) OXYGEN LEVEL;
2) TOXIC SUBSTANCE LEVELS.
e) ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING WHILE WORK IS BEING PERFORMED IN THE TANK
ON A CONTINUOUS BASES.
f) PERSONNEL TRAINING AND COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE HAZARDS.
g) STANDBY PERSON AS NAMED ON THE PERMIT.
h) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND LOCATION OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT.
3) THE PERMIT SHALL BE DATED AND CARRY AN EXPIRATION TIME THAT WILL BE
VALID FOR ONE SHIFT ONLY. THE PERMIT SHALL BE UPDATED FOR EACH SHIFT
WITH THE SAME REQUIREMENTS.
4) WORKERS WHO ENTER THE TANK SHALL HAVE A PREPLACEMENT PHYSICAL E
EXAMINATION MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE EMPLOYER SHALL PROVIDE THE
PHYSICIAN PERFORMING OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
PROGRAM INFORMATION, SUCH AS THE TYPE OF CONFINED SPACE THE EMPLOYEE
MAY BE REQUIRED TO ENTER, THE TYPE OF SUBSTANCES THE EMPLOYEE MAY
ENCOUNTER, AND A DESCRIPTION OF ANY PROTECTIVE DEVICES OR EQUIPMENT
THE EMPLOYEE MAY BE REQUIRED TO USE.
5) PERSONNEL WHO WORK IN THE VICINITY OF THE WASTE TREATMENT TANKS SHALL
BE MADE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CONFINED SPACES
DURING ORIENTATION.
6) PERSONNEL WHO ARE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THESE CONFINED SPACES, OR IN
SUPPORT OF THOSE WORKING IN THESE CONFINED SPACES SHALL HAVE
ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS;
a) EMERGENCY ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURES;
b) FIRST AID;
c) SAFETY EQUIPMENT USE;
d) RESCUE AND TRAINING DRILLS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN PROFICIENCY SHALL
BE GIVEN AT LEAST ANNUALLY.
e) PERMIT SYSTEM;
f) PROPER WORK PRACTICES TO BE USED IN A CONFINED SPACE.
7) ENTRY INTO THE TANK IS PROHIBITED UNTIL INITIAL TESTING OF THE
ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN DONE FROM THE OUTSIDE. APPROPRIATE TESTS SHALL BE
MADE TO INSURE THAT THE ATMOSPHERE IS SAFE. THE TESTS PERFORMED SHALL
INCLUDE THOSE FOR OXYGEN CONTENT AND TOXIC MATERIALS. ANY NECESSARY
ADDITIONAL TESTS WILL BE SELECTED AND PERFORMED TO THE SATISFACTION
OF THE QUALIFIED PERSON. MONITORING SHALL BE DONE ON A CONTINUOUS
BASIS.
8) INSTRUMENTS USED FOR TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE TANK SHALL BE
CALIBRATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES OR
MANUALS. EACH CALIBRATION SHALL BE RECORDED, FILED BY THE EMPLOYER,
AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST CALIBRATION
DATE.
9) THE PERCENTAGE OF OXYGEN FOR ENTRY INTO A CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE NO
LESS THAN 19.5% NOR GREATER THAN 25%.
10) ALL ENTRANCES TO THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE POSTED. SIGNS SHALL
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
DANGER
CONFINED SPACE
ENTRY BY PERMIT
ONLY
11) EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING PHONE NUMBERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS
AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SHALL BE POSTED CONSPICUOUSLY WITHIN
THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE WASTE TREATMENT TANK OR AT THE TELEPHONE
FROM WHICH HELP WOULD BE SUMMONED.
12) THE EMPLOYER SHALL MAINTAIN A WRITTEN RECORD OF TRAINING, INCLUDING
SAFETY DRILLS, INSPECTIONS, TESTS AND MAINTENANCE.
13) RESCUE PROCEDURES SHALL BE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR ENTRY INTO THE
TANK.
14) THERE SHALL BE A TRAINED STANDBY PERSON ASSIGNED TO THE TANK
WHENEVER ENTRY IS PLANNED. THE STANDBY PERSON WILL MAINTAIN
UNOBSTRUCTED LIFELINES AND COMMUNICATIONS TO ALL WORKERS WITHIN THE
CONFINED SPACE, AND TO SUMMON RESCUE PERSONNEL IF NECESSARY. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE STANDBY PERSON ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE UNTIL
HE/SHE IS RELIEVED AND IS ASSURED THAT ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE IS PRESENT
HOWEVER, WHILE AWAITING RESCUE PERSONNEL, THE STANDBY PERSON WILL
MAKE RESUCE ATTEMPTS UTILIZING THE LIFELINES FROM OUTSIDE THE
CONFINED SPACE. RESCUE TEAMS ENTERING THE TANK SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH
ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED SAFETY EQUIPMENT OF THE STANDBY PERSON AND
REQUIRED LIFELINES.
15) WORKERS WHO ENTER THE TANK SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELTS,
LIFELINES AND HARNESS AT A MINIMUM. ADDITIONAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT SHALL BE REQUIRED WHENEVER THE CONDITIONS AND THE OPERATION
BEING CONDUCTED WOULD WARRANT THEIR USE. THE NEED FOR RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.
16) THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS, PLUS ALL OTHER STANDARD RELATING THE
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE LISTED IN
WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES BY NIOSH (PUBLICATION NO. 80-106) SHALL
BE COMPLIED WITH WHEN ENTERING CONFINED SPACES. CONFINED SPACES AT
THIS LOCATION INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE WASTE TREATMENT
TANKS.

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985

Issued

Jun 27, 1985

Abate by

Jul 2, 1985