OSHA Inspection: ESSEX JUNCTION WASTEWATER TREATEMENT PLANT

Issued

Oct 17, 2005

Abate by

Nov 4, 2008

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910 Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety & Health Act of
1970: and the: Vermont Statutes :
TITLE 21 Labor : CHAPTER 3. SAFETY: Sub chapter 5. Occupational Safety and
Health :  223. Duties. (a)
: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment which are free
from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or
significant physical harm to his employees;
and the employer shall comply with safety and health standards promulgated
under the VOSHA Code.
Location: Wastewater Treatment Plant, Anaerobic Digester Area,  on the lawn
Violation: The employer did not furnish each of the employees employment
and a place of employment which are
free from recognized hazards in that employees were exposed to fire
omitting from the unguarded Methane Burner
unit which burns off excess sewerage methane, equipped with a  flame that
can exceed 4 feet in size that moves
in unpredictable directions, exposed to wind, that can direct the flame to
blow in a 360 degree area, and can blow
the flame in a downward area exposing employees who work beneath the flame
with such tasks as maintenance
and repair to the burner and lawn mowing around the base of the burner.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct the
hazards include but are not limited to: (a):
Guard the burner area. Remove all the grass around the burner and replace
the grass with asphalt and install
guardrail completely around the burner unit to eliminate landscaping tasks
at the burner; (b): Relocate the burner
to an area that does not exposed landscaping employees to the flame.

Issued

Oct 17, 2005

Abate by

Oct 20, 2005

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $225