OSHA Inspection: SIMPSON & SONS, INC.

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

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:
A) EMPLOYEES, ENTERING RAILROAD TANKER CARS TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE AND
REPAIR ACTIVITIES, WERE EXPOSED TO THE HAZARDS OF ENTERING A CONFINED
SPACE WHICH COULD HAVE CONTAINED HAZARDOUS AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS OR
LACKED SUFICIENT OXYGEN, WITHOUT ADEQUATE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
PROCEDURES. THE RAILROAD TANK CAR ENTRY PROCEDURES WERE DEFICIENT IN
THAT THERE WAS NO WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OR PERMIT SYSTEM FOR ENTRY
WHICH WAS SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, WRITTEN
RESCUE PROCEDURES, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING OF STANDBY PERSONS WERE NOT
ESTABLISHED, READY FOR USE AND ENFORCED; AND THERE WAS NO SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED FOR TAGGING A TANK UNSAFE FOR ENTRY.
AMONG OTHER METHODS OF ABATEMENT OF THE HAZARDS, ONE FEASIBLE METHOD TO
ABATE THESE DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:
A) A REQUIREMENT THAT, PRIOR TO TANK ENTRY, EMPLOYEES OBTAIN WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION SIGNED BY AT LEAST ONE SUPERVISOR, THE PERMIT SHOULD
SPECIFY THE PERIOD OF TIME OVER WHICH IT IS VALID;
B) MEANS OF THE IMMEDIATE RESCUE OF EACH EMPLOYEE ENTERING A TANK
INCLUDING THE USE OF SAFETY HARNESSES ANDLIFELINES IN CONJUNCTION
WITH MECHANICAL HOISTING EQUIPMENT AND/OR ADDITIONAL STANDBY
PERSONNEL EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION;
C) WRITTEN EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY STANDBY
PERSONNEL IN THE EVENT A TANK RESCUE WAS NECESSARY;
D) TAG OUT PROCEDURES FOR TANKS WHICH HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE
FOR ENTRY;
E) TRAINING AND EQUIPPING THE ENTERING AND OBSERVING PERSONS WITH THE
PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE TRAINING OF ALL INVOLVED
PERSONNEL IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES; AND,
F) WRITTEN POLICIES OF ENFORCEMENT OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE RAILROAD TANK
CAR ENTRY PROGRAM.

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

Issued

Feb 7, 1991

Abate by

Feb 22, 1991