OSHA Inspection: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, U.S. MINT

Issued

Nov 13, 2007

Abate by

Nov 16, 2007

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 hazard of being burned by hot tar.
a) Jobsite- 5th and Arch St. Philadelphia- a) On or about May 31, 2007 an
employee of
the U. S. Mint, was exposed to asphalt (coal tar) when it splashed on his
body.  This
occurred when the employee entered an area undergoing roof replacement.
The hot coal
tar slipped between a gap in the T-beams and fell on the floor splashing
the employee,
producing second degree burns to his forearm, finger and neck. The
employer did not
take necessary steps to ensure employees were protected from hot tar.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods include the
following:
(1) Change the application method of coal tar to cover the T-beam gaps as
suggested by
the roofing contractor.
(2) Completely vacate and prohibit employees from entering area underneath
the roof
where work was being performed.