OSHA Inspection: THOMAS INDUSTRIAL COATINGS

Issued

Jun 16, 1998

Abate by

Jun 22, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $3,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish a place of 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 asphyxiation and/or
death from the
hazards of oxygen deficiency and/or dangerous accumulations of toxic or
flammable gases:
At this water tank site, employees were entering an elevated water tank in
order to sandblast
and paint. These hazards resulted from deficiencies in the implentation of
the company's
confined space entry program, which included the following:
a) Failure to implement the company's permit system.
b) Failure to test the atmosphere of the tank for oxygen deficiency,
flammables and/or toxics
prior to entry, and as needed during operations such as sandblasting and
spray painting  the
interior of the tank.
c) Lack of or inadequate training provided to employees in hazards
associated
with entering
confined spaces, such as water tanks, along with methods they can take to
minimize them.
d) Failure to implement a rescue plan that included removal of entrants
that may become
disabled and for summoning rescue and emergency services.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
is to follow the procedures set forth in the American National Standards
Institute ANSI
Z117.1-1989   which includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the
following elements:(a)
The completion and posting of a confined entry permit which requires
authorization and
approval in writing that specifies the location and type of work to be
done, and certifies that
all existing and potential hazards have been evaluated and necessary
protective measures have
been taken to assure the safety of each worker.(b) Testing of the
atmosphere of the confined
space prior to entry, and on a regular basis for the presence of
sufficient oxygen and the
absence of hazardous levels of toxic or flammable gases or vapors.(c)
Emergency rescue
procedures including trained personnel with the proper equipment to
provide rescue and a
means of communication to summon emergency services such as an ambulance.
***THIS ITEM REQUIRES A WRITTEN CERTIFICATION OF ABATEMENT***

Issued

Jun 16, 1998

Abate by

Jun 22, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,000

Issued

Jun 16, 1998

Abate by

Jun 22, 1998