OSHA Inspection: SOUTHWEST CONTRACTING, INC.

Issued

2000-03-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2000-04-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2500.00 · Current $2500.00

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 of likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazard of chemical overexposure and asphyxia during
entry into confined
spaces:
a)  On March 1, 2000, an employee was taken to the hospital after entering
a confined
space (sludge pit) without implementing any standard confined space entry
precautions.
The employee was overcome by carbon monoxide.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct this
hazard is to implement a confined space entry program which adopts the
requirements
outlined in the American National Standard (ANSI) Safety Requirements for
Confined
Spaces (Z117.1 - 1989).
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").