OSHA Inspection: GREAT WESTERN

Issued

Jun 1, 2012

Abate by

Jul 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

Hazardous substances 1640

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 injury from explosion and fire while checking for a
suspected gas leak:
a) In the area of 213 Fulton Street, Allentown, PA - On or about January 5,
2012, an employee was investigating a suspected natural gas leak when an
unidentified source of ignition ignited the gas resulting in an explosion.
Abatement Note: Among other methods one feasible and acceptable method to
correct these
hazards would be to: Follow the standards as outlined in the Gas
Operations Manual sections
60.50.30 Gas Leak Investigation and  80.10.10 Operator Qualifications
which states in detail the
procedures required to follow during a response and the training required.
This is in addition
to the procedures as outlined in NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 (2012), National Fuel
Gas Code,
Chapter 4 section 4.3.1 (2) and (4). These guidelines as well as the
suggested procedure in
Annex C.4 which provides for deliberate and methodical safe identification
of a suspected
natural gas leak.
Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after
abatement date.  The
certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the
date and method of
abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were
informed of this abatement.
Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that
abatement is complete,
such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or
video evidence of
abatement or other written records.