OSHA Inspection: LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY METROPOLITAN SEWER

Issued

2006-01-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2006-01-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $1875.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

KRS Chapter 338.031(1)(a): The employer did not furnish to each of its
employees
employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards
that are
causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the
employees in that
employees were exposed to: Immediately dangerous to life and health(IDLH)
levels of
hydrogen sulfide gas in the north and south pump stations at the
Louisville and Jefferson
County Metropolitan Sewer District Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment
Plant.  Hydrogen
sulfide is a colorless gas with a strong odor.  Exposure to the gas can
cause apnea, comas,
convulsions, conjuctivitis, eye pain and death from asphyxiation.
Elevated levels of
hydrogen sulfide were present on 8/9/05 when one Louisville and Jefferson
County
Metropolitan Sewer District operator and two employees of Debra Koons dba
API Services
passed out in the south pump station.  On 8/9/05, two contracted employees
of Debra Koons
dba API Services were unclogging a pipe on pump #8 in the south pump
station
by means of
line moling.  When the clog broke, sludge came out of the pipe at high
pressure, trapping
one of the Debra Koons dba API Services employees between the wall and the
sludge that
was coming out of the pipe.  A Louisville and Jefferson County
Metropolitan Sewer District
operator on duty in the north pump station returned to the scene of the
incident with an API
employee who went to summon help.  The men had no sampling equipment and
no idea of
the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the area.  Both men passed out in
the process of
rescuing the other contractor employee.  Sampling performed after all
employees had been
rescued and sent to the hospital showed a hydrogen sulfide concentration
of 61ppm in the
area according to the Process Supervisor.  Per the Process Supervisor and
the
Safety/Emergency Response Coordinator, hydrogen sulfide levels continued
to be high days
after the incident area had been cleaned up.
According to  Safety and Health Topics: Hydrogen Sulfide, located at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000783.html, loss of
consciousness
indicates hydrogen sulfide levels of 500-700ppm.
No procedure for sampling hydrogen sulfide in the pump stations is in
place.  The
employees had voiced concerns about hydrogen sulfide levels to management
in the past and
management had looked into purchasing fixed monitors for the north and
south pump
stations.  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method to correct
this hazard is to establish and enforce entry procedures for the pump
stations similar to those
established for entry into confined spaces.  Essential elements of these
procedures would
include:
1.Establish a written entry procedure, including procedures to be followed
and training
for all affected employees.
2.Sampling procedure for the pump stations so that employees are aware of
the levels of
hydrogen sulfide in the stations prior to, and during, entry so employees
will know
when the area is safe to enter.
3.Installation of fixed hydrogen sulfide monitors in the pump stations or
gas meters that
detect hydrogen sulfide.
4.Have rescue personnel available when entry of the pump stations is being
performed.

Issued

2006-01-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2006-01-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $1875.00 Reduced

Issued

2006-01-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2006-01-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $1875.00 Reduced