OSHA Inspection: SALOOMEY CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

Jul 23, 2008

Abate by

Jul 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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 in that
employees were exposed
to harmful levels of carbon monoxide while running gasoline engines within
an enclosed area.
Workers involved in pouring a new concrete floor within the building, were
using concrete
buggies, to move concrete from the concrete truck to different areas of
the space. One feasible
and acceptable method to abate this hazard is to properly ventilate the
area while the equipment
is being operated and ensure that engines are properly adjusted to limit
the carbon monoxide
generated by them. In addition, carbon monoxide detectors could be used to
warn workers if any
significant amount of carbon monoxide is presence to allow for evacuation
until levels are
lowered.
A) LOCATION: 265 BENTON DRIVE
WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE POURING OF A CONCRETE FLOOR WITHIN AN
ENCLOSED BUILDING, WERE EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE
CREATED BY POOR RUNNING CONCRETE BUGGIES. TWO BUGGIES WERE BEING
USED WITHIN AN ENCLOSED BUILDING SPACE FOR NEARLY 2 HOURS IN AN AREA
WHERE THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION AND ONLY ONE 42" WIDE
DOOR THAT WAS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE. THE EAST LONGMEADOW FIRE
DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED WHEN WORKERS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE
BUILDING EXPERIENCED ILL AFFECTS FROM THE AIR QUALITY. UPON THEIR
ARRIVAL, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK READINGS WHILE ENTERING THE
FINISHED BUILDING AREAS THAT EXCEEDED 290 PPM. THE BUILDING WAS
EVACUATED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE TREATED ON THE SCENE.