OSHA Inspection: MONTICELLO VILL MUNICIPAL BLDG

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Jan 2, 2015

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27-a.3.a(1):  The employer did not furnish to
each of its employees,
employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized
hazards that are causing
or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees
and which will provide
reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, safety or health of its
employees.  In applying
this paragraph, fundamental distinctions between private and public
employment have been
recognized.
Monticello Village Office Building:
a)  Employees working in the building are potentially exposed to the
hazards associated with
engine exhaust emissions, including carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.  The
exhaust system fo
rthe building's emergency gasoline-powered generator, which is permanently
installed indoors
(located in the back of the DPW garage), is leaking exhaust gases inside
the building.  During
a power outage on October 31, 2012, the leaking exhaust system and the
manner
the system was
installed caused CO contamination inside the building and resulted in the
evacuation of the
building and employee exposures requiring medical treatment.
PESH inspected the system on FGeburary 13, 2013.  Within just a few
minutes of starting the
generator, CO levels within a few feet of the generator climbed to 13
parts per million (ppm)
and were rising.  A measurement taken within 6 inches from the point where
the exhaust system
was found to be leaking spiked immediately to 241 ppm and rising.  Further
evaluation of the
hazard was terminiated to prevent contamination inside the building.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that reduces the body's
ability to absorb oxygen.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include: headaches, nausea, dizziness,
confusion, increased heart
reate, loss of consciousness, and death.
Carbon monoxide is a widely recognized hazard, and a faulty exhaust system
on gasoline
powered engine installed and operated indoors is a hazard recognized by
national industry
standards, such as the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Codes, and
by regulations such
as the New York State Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes.  NFPA's Code 101
(Life Safety Code)
states that emergency generators must be tested and maintained in
accordance with NFPA Code
110 (Emergency and Standby Generators).  NRPA 110, paragraph 5-10.2,
states that generator
exhaust systems must be gas-tight to prevent exhaust gases from entering
inhabited rooms and
buildings.  The New York State Mechanical Code (Section 915) and Fuel Gas
Code (Section
616) state that liquid-fueled stationary internal combustion engines must
be installed in
accordance with NFPA 37.  Paragraph 7-23 of NFPA 37 states, "Exhaust
systems shall be of
sufficient strength to withstand the intended service".
The village installed the exhaust system, but failed to adequately inspect
and maintain the
system.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Oct 28, 2013

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Oct 28, 2013

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Oct 28, 2013

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Aug 5, 2013