OSHA Inspection: HUDSPETH & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Issued

2012-01-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-11-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3600.00 · Current $7000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2): Elements of an emergency response plan. The employer did not develop an emergency response plan for emergencies which addressed the areas required by this paragraph:    (a) Hudspeth & Associates, Inc. at 1493 Hwy 6 & 50 in Fruita, CO: On and before July 19, 2011 the employer did not develop an emergency response plan (ERP) for emergencies encountered at the former refinery where they were working.  Two employees suffered hydrogen sulfide exposures which required medical treatment.  The emergency response plan did not adequately address the hazard of hydrogen sulfide or other gas release during demolition activities.  This contingency must be addressed in at least the following paragraphs of the ERP: emergency recognition and prevention, emergency medical treatment and first aid, and emergency alerting and response procedures.  This condition exposed employees to a hydrogen sulfide hazard.    Abatement Note: According to the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard, the emergency response plan must address the following:  Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties  Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication  Emergency recognition and prevention  Safe distances and places of refuge  Site security and control  Evacuation routes and procedures  Decontamination  Emergency medical treatment and first aid  Emergency alerting and response procedures  Critique of response and follow-up.  PPE and emergency equipment.  Emergency response organizations may use the local emergency response plan or the state emergency response plan or both, as part of their emergency response plan to avoid duplication. Those items of the emergency response plan that are being properly addressed by the SARA Title III plans may be substituted into their emergency plan or otherwise kept together for the employer and employee's use.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

2012-01-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-11-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3600.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(6)(i) Employees who participated, or were expected to participate, in emergency response, were not given first responder awareness level training:    (a) Hudspeth & Associates, Inc. at 1493 Hwy 6 & 50 in Fruita, CO: On and before July 19, 2011 the employer did not train first responders at the awareness level who were likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release.  Two employees suffered hydrogen sulfide exposures which required medical treatment.  One employee was "cold tapping" (also called line breaking) a process pipe at the amine unit when he and a nearby co-worker became ill.  Neither employee had received HAZWOPER awareness level training.  This condition exposed employees to a hydrogen sulfide hazard.    Abatement Note: First responders at the awareness level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. They would take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release.  First responders at the awareness level shall have sufficient training or have had sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the following areas:  An understanding of what hazardous substances are, and the risks associated with them in an incident.  An understanding of the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous substances are present.  The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency.  The ability to identify the hazardous substances, if possible.  An understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual in the employer's emergency response plan including site security and control and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook.  The ability to realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

2012-01-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-11-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(6)(iii) Employees who participated, or were expected to participate, in emergency response, were not given hazardous materials technician training:    (a) Hudspeth & Associates, Inc. at 1493 Hwy 6 & 50 in Fruita, CO: On and before July 19, 2011 the employer did not train hazardous material technicians who could respond to releases or potential releases for the purposes of stopping the release.  Following two employees exposure to hydrogen sulfide, the site superintendent and an asbestos worker returned to the scene and the site superintendent used a reciprocating saw to cut the pipe where the leak occurred.  Neither employee had received HAZWOPER hazardous materials technician training.  This condition exposed employees to a hydrogen sulfide hazard.    Abatement Note: Hazardous materials technicians are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for the purpose of stopping the release. They assume a more aggressive role than a first responder at the operations level in that they will approach the point of release in order to plug, patch or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance.  Hazardous materials technicians shall have received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency in the following areas and the employer shall so certify:  Know how to implement the employer's emergency response plan.  Know the classification, identification and verification of known and unknown materials by using field survey instruments and equipment.  Be able to function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System.  Know how to select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials technician.  Understand hazard and risk assessment techniques.  Be able to perform advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available with the unit.  Understand and implement decontamination procedures.  Understand termination procedures.  Understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").