OSHA Inspection: CLEAN HARBORS OF KINGSTON INC

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 25, 1993

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $25,000 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 oxygen dificiency and/or dangerous
accumulations
of toxic vapors (such as toluene), while entering an ink
tank on or about October 22-23, 1992, to remove solvent-containing ink
sludge.  These exposures could result in asphyxiation, chemical
poisoning
and/or death.  The hazards resulted from deficiencies in the
company's confined space entry program, to wit:
(a)  Ineffective retrieval system to remove disabled or
unconscious
worker from the confined space.
(b)  Failure to provide rescue capability for individuals in a
confined space should an emergency arise.
(c)  Lack of supervisory controls over the work being performed
in the tank.
(d)  Ineffective ventilation of the confined space prior to and
during entry.
(e)  Ineffective sampling of the confined space for the presence
of sufficient oxygen, and the absence of hazardous levels of flammable
vapors and toxics prior to and during entry.
(f)  Failure to perform continuous testing of the atmosphere
within the tank for levels of toxic air contaminants during mucking
operations.
Among other methods, feasible ways to correct these hazards are:
(a)  Provide mechanical retrieval equipment.
(b)  Make arrangements with offsite emergency response personnel
who are capable of performing a rescue, and who are familiar with the
premises and can respond in a timely manner.
(c)  Ensure that the individual in charge of the entry does not
perform other tasks which may interfere with the performance of duties
necessary for a safe entry.
(d)  Ensure that ventilation is designed and arranged so that all
areas of the confined space are effectively ventilated.  It is
particularly
important to consider the source and path of make-up air.
(e)  Ensure that sampling methodology takes into consideration
the shape and remoteness of areas within the confined space. Confined
spaces which are deep may require that a probe or extension be added
to the sampling equipment to ensure that, within all areas in the
confined space, levels of oxygen are sufficient and concentrations of
flammable gases and toxics are within acceptable ranges.
(f)  Continuous monitoring should be performed where operations
within the confined space may cause levels of airborne toxic
contaminants
to change.

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $25,000 Reduced

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993

Issued

Mar 23, 1993

Abate by

Apr 9, 1993