OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL WATER MAIN CLEANING COMPANY, INCORPORATED

Issued

Jan 24, 2002

Abate by

Feb 26, 2002

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,500 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 or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazards associated with confined space entry:
National Water Main Cleaning Company, Incorporated, Charlesgate East and
Beacon Street,
Boston, MA:  On or about 11/29/01, employees entered into, and worked
inside of, the New
Stony Brook conduit to remove accumulated sand and debris.  During this
project the employer
did not follow the elements of an adequate and acceptable confined space
program.  These
elements include, but are not limited to, 1) posting danger signs or other
equally effective
means, of the existence and location of and danger posed by the permit
space.  2) The employer
chose to select the Boston Fire Department as their rescue service, but
failed to notify the
appropriate section of the Fire Department of this decision.  This is
critical
because the Fire
Department must familiarize themselves with the conditions which exist at
this site prior to any
emergency arising to ensure the greatest chance of a successful rescue.
By not coordinating with
the Boston Fire Department, the employer exposed their employees to the
hazards of inadequate
rescue services in the event of an emergency.  3) While inside the
conduit, employees had
inadequate communications with the attendant due to "dead spots", or areas
far inside the conduit
where the hand-held communication devices would fail to receive a signal.
In the event of an
emergency, the employer, or rescue service, may not be able to communicate
with the entrants.
4) Lighting inside the conduit was supplied only by the headlights of the
machine performing
the removal activities.  If these headlights failed there would be no
other worklights in the
conduit. Among other means of abatement, one feasible and successful
method to correct these
deficiencies is to establish and implement a confined space entry program
such as that specified
in ANSI Z117.1-1995.  The program would include, but not be limited to,
the following: 1)
Communications equipment which would allow the attendant to continuously
monitor entrant
status and alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space; and 2)
Lighting equipment needed to
enable employees to exit the space quickly in an emergency;   Also, when
assembling a rescue
team or contracting for another employer's employees to perform rescue
activities, then National
Water Main Cleaning Company must 1) Assess the capability of the rescue
team to reach the
victim(s) within a time frame that is appropriate for the permit space
hazard(s) identified; 2)
Ensure the team is equipped for, and proficient in, performing the needed
rescue services; and
3) Be informed of the hazards they may confront when called on to perform
rescue at the site.e

Issued

Jan 24, 2002

Abate by

Feb 26, 2002

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Jan 24, 2002

Abate by

Jan 29, 2002

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Jan 24, 2002

Abate by

Jan 29, 2002