OSHA Inspection: BELL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS INC .

Issued

Oct 2, 2006

Abate by

Oct 6, 2006

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250

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:
a/ Employees constructing a leg of a new 480 volt electrical service did
not use personal
protective clothing and equipment meeting the guidelines of NFPA 70E as
they reconnected
(reenergized) the service exposing one employee to an electrical arc blast.
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazards rests with the
employer, given his/her
superior knowledge of the work place, feasible and acceptable methods of
abatement to correct
this hazard, among others are:
1.  To follow the requirements of NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety
in the
Workplace, latest edition (2004).  Utilize the protective clothing and
personal protective
equipment for conducting work within the flash protection boundary or
restricted
approach boundary.  Complete a flash hazard analysis, per 110.8(B)(1) of
NFPA 70E,
for the work that is to be performed, calculate the anticipated incident
energy exposure
of the worker (in calories per square centimeter) for voltages above 600
volts or use a
flash protection boundary of 4.0 feet for 600 volts and below. The
employer shall base
the energy exposure level on the working distance of the employee's face
and chest areas
from the prospective arc source for the specific task to be performed.
Flame Resistant
(FR) Clothing a nd Personal Protective Equipment shall then be selected
and used based
upon the incident energy exposure associated for the specific task, or as
an alternative,
the PPE requirements shall be designed in accordance with Annex C & D of
NFPA
70E's permitted uses in lieu of the detailed flash hazard analysis.
2.  To follow the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1) and use
appropriate face, hand,
arm and body protection against the effects of an electrical arc blast
during disconnect
and reconnect of an electrical circuit.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED
FOR THIS VIOLATION.  The documentation should include written verification
of abatement,
applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos
which you believe
will be helpful.  The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the
citation(s).
AND OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE

Issued

Oct 2, 2006

Abate by

Oct 6, 2006