OSHA Inspection: TRI-STATE GENERATION & TRANSMISSION ASSN. INC.

Issued

Sep 19, 2001

Abate by

Nov 6, 2001

Penalty

Initial $5,000

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 hazard of coal dust explosions and/or being struck by
non-rated electrical
equipment being operated inside a hazardous area:
a)  The employer had not documented known hazardous (classified) locations
throughout the facility including but not limited to the upper levels of
the coal
handling unit to ensure that electrical equipment rated for hazardous
areas was
installed and used as appropriate.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to follow section 500-3(b) of the National Electrical Code
(NEC-
1999) and document all areas designated as hazardous (classified)
locations. This
information shall be made available to those authorized to design,
install, inspect,
maintain, or operate electrical equipment at the location.  Additionally,
the
employers Parts Inventory Module used with the employers computerized
maintenance management system should be used to ensure that appropriate
electrical equipment be purchased when ordering replacements components.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification