OSHA Inspection: NEATSFOOT OIL REFINERIES CORP.

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $210 · Current $150 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
SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM TO EMPLOYEES IN THAT EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO THE
HAZARDS OF OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERE AND PHSIOLOGICAL STRESS DURING
ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES:
A) THE NEATSFOOT OIL REFINERIES CORPORATION - AN EMPLOYEE WAS REQUIRED
TO ENTER A TANK TRUCK TO FLUSH OUT ANIMAL OIL DEBRIS WITH HOT WATER
FROM INSIDE THE TANK. THIS EMPLOYEE WAS POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO AN
OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERE AND HEAT STRESS AS A RESULT OF HOT VAPOR
CONCENTRATIONS AND POSSIBLY DROWNING IF SUCCUMBING TO UNCONSCIOUSNESS
DURING THE FLUSHING OPERATION. OBSERVED 2/21/91
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO IMPLEMENT AND UTILIZE A CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIALS:
-PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE ENTRY INTO CONFINED SPACES, EMPLOYEES DESIGNATED TO
PERFORM THIS TASK SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH FORMALIZED TRAINING WHICH
INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE NATURE OF THE HAZARDS LIKELY TO BE
ENCOUNTERED DURING THE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY, THE SYMPTOMS AND
CONSEQUENCES OF CONTAMINANT OVEREXPOSURE AND OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,
EMERGENCY ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURES, USE OF APPLICABLE RESPIRATORS,
FIRST AID, LOCKOUT PROCEDURES, SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SAFE RESCUE TRAINING
DRILLS SHALL BE PROVIDED AT LEAST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO DEVELOP AND
MAINTAIN THE PROFICIENCY OF THESE EMPLOYEES IN PERFORMING CONFINED SPACE
ENTRY WORK. A SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENTING TRAINING SHOULD ALSO BE
ESTABLISHED.
-A PROGRAM OF ATMOSPHERIC TESTING FOR OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, VAPORS AND
OTHER HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINANTS SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED AND
PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED FORMAL TRAINING USING
PROPERLY CALIBRATED DIRECT READING OXYGEN, COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND TOXIC
GAS INDICATOR. THIS TESTING SHALL BE DONE ADJACENT TO AND THROUGHOUT
THE ACCESSIBLE AREAS OF THE CONFINED SPACE, AND SHALL BE CARRIED OUT
PRIOR TO EACH ENTRY. PERIODIC RETESTING WHILE EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE SPACE
MAY ALSO BE NECESSARY DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE WORK PERFORMED.
-WHERE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE CONFINED SPACE CONTAINS HAZARDOUS
AIR CONTAMINANT(S) AND/OR AN OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, USE OF MECHANICALLY-
INDUCED VENTILATION IS NECESSARY BOTH BEFORE ENTRY AND DURING OCCUPANCY.
APPROPRIATE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AGAINST THE HAZARD ENCOUNTERED MAY
ALSO BE REQUIRED.
-A PERMIT SYSTEM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED WHICH PROVIDES WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE AND DOCUMENTS THE LOCATION
AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE DONE, EVALUATION OF EXISTING HAZARDS INCLUDING
ATMOSPHERIC TEST READINGS, NECESSARY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND MEASURES.
THE PERMIT SHALL BE DATED AND CARRY AN EXPIRATION TIME (USUALLY FOR ONE
SHIFT ONLY). THE PERMIT SHALL BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE, CLOSE TO
THE ENTRANCE, WITH A COPY ON FILE WITH THE EMPLOYER. THE PERMIT SHALL
DOCUMENT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NECESSARY LOCKOUT AND ISOLATION
PROCEDURES UTILIZED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES ENTERING THE CONFINED
SPACE.
-RESCUE PROCEDURES SHALL BE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR EACH ENTRY. THERE
SHALL BE A TRAINED STANDBY PERSON ASSIGNED TO EACH ETNRY WITH A FULLY
CHARGED, POSITIVE PRESSURE, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA)
AT HAND, IF DETERMINED TO BE NECESSARY BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.
-ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE STAND-BY PERSON ARE TO MAINTAIN UNOBSTRUCTED
LIFE LINES AND COMMUNICATIONS TO ANY WORKERS INSIDE THE SPACE. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE STAND-BY PERSON ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE UNTIL
SHE/HE IS RELIEVED AND IS ASSURED THAT ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE IS PRESENT.
RESCUE TEAMS ENTERING THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL THE
ABOVE MENTIONED SAFETY EQUIPMENT INCLUDING LIFE LINES.
-APPROPRIATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING, SUCH AS RESPIRATORS, HEAD,
HAND, FOOT AND BODY PROTECTION, SAFTY BELTS, LIFE LINES, HARNESS AND
LIFTING DEVICES SHALL BE AVAILABLE AS APPROPRIATE, FOR EACH ENTRY.
-EMPLOYEES WHO ENTER A CONFINED SPACE SHALL HAVE PRE-PLACEMENT AND
PERIODIC PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS. THESE EXAMINATIONS SHOULD PLACE EMPHASIS
ON A GENERAL EVALUATION OF AN EMPLOYEE'S ABILITY TO CARRY OUT HIS
ASSIGNED DUTIES WITHIN A CONFINED SPACE. THE EXAMINATION SHOULD ALSO
INCLUDE AN EVALUATION OF THE EMPLOYEE'S ABILITY TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR
ALONG WITH THE EMPLOYEE'S HEARING ABILITY.
-WRITTEN CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES WHICH ADDRESS ENTRY, EXIT,
COMMUNICATION/OBSERVATION PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY RESCUE AND SAFE WORK
PRACTICES, SHALL BE POSTED ADJACENT TO PITS, TANKS VESSELS OR OTHER
CONFINED SPACES WHICH MAY BE ENTERED.
-SIGNS SHALL BE POSTED, AS A MEANS OF EMPLOYEE INFORMATION, NEAR PERMIT
SPACES TO NOTIFY EMPLOYEES OF THOSE HAZARDS WHICH MAY BE PRESENT AND
SERVED NOTICE THAT ONLY AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES MAY ENTER THE CONFINED
SPACE. THE HOSE USED INSIDE THE TANK FOR FLUSHING PURPOSES SHALL HAVE A
SELF-CLOSING VALVE ("DEAD-MAN" DEVICE) TO PREVENT POTENTIAL DROWNING,
SHOULD THE WORKER IN THE TANK BECOME UNCONCIOUS AND COLLAPSE ON THE
BOTTOM OF THE TANK. ALSO, BECAUSE THE WORKER INSIDE MUST RELY ON AN
OUTSIDE PERSON TO REGULATE THE WATER TEMPERATURE, A "DEAD-MAN" VALVE
WILL ENSURE A QUICK STOPPAGE OF WATER SHOULD IT BE TOO HOT.

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $180 · Current $120 Reduced

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

May 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $210 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

May 14, 1991

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

May 14, 1991

Penalty

Initial $150

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

May 14, 1991

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

Jun 4, 1991

Issued

Apr 30, 1991

Abate by

May 23, 1991