OSHA Inspection: BAE SYSTEMS, SAN FRANCISCO SHIP REPAIR

Issued

2012-03-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-04-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $7000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1915.73(b): When employees were working in the vicinity of flush manholes and other small openings of comparable size in the deck and other working surfaces, such openings were not suitably covered or guarded to a height of not less than 30 inches, except where the use of such guards was made impracticable by the work actually in progress.    (a) In drydock Eureka on board the SS Jeremiah O'Brien on or about February 11, 2012, and at times prior thereto, the flush manhole to number 3 deep tank starboard was not covered or guarded to a height of 30 inches.  Employees entered the tank to clean the tank and to prepare for a fire watch or to perform a fire watch.  The manhole was located in the deck on the aft side of the tank.  It was about 20 feet from the deck to the bottom of the tank.  There were about 7 sets of  6, 1 inch diameter pipes, reportedly used to heat the contents of the tank, on the bottom of the tank.  On February 17, 2012, there was a guard for the manhole to the tank.

Issued

2012-03-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-04-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $30000.00 · Current $30000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1915.73(d): When employees were exposed to unguarded edges of decks, platforms, flats, and similar flat surfaces, more than 5 feet above a solid surface, the edges were not guarded by adequate guardrails meeting the requirements of 1915.71(j)(1) and (2), unless the nature of the work in progress or the physical conditions prohibit the use or installation of such guardrails.    (a) In drydock Eureka on board the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in number 3 deep tank starboard on or about February 11, 2012, and at times prior thereto, there were no guardrails on the ledge in the tank where employees were located to clean the tank and where employees were located to prepare for a fire watch or to perform a fire watch.  The ledge was about 11 feet above the bottom of the tank and varied in width from about 3.75 feet on the starboard side of the ship to about5.66 feet toward the aft side of the ship.  There were about 7 sets of 6, 1 inch diameter pipes, reportedly used to heat the contents of the tank, on the bottom of the tank.  An employee fell from the tank's ledge on February 11, 2012.  On February 17, 2012, shipyard managers stated guardrails would be installed on the tank's ledge before work from the ledge restarted.     OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:    29 CFR 1915.77(c): When employees were working aloft, or elsewhere at elevations more than 5 feet above a solid surface, either scaffolds or a sloping ladder, meeting the requirements of this subpart, were not used to afford safe footing, or the employees were not protected by safety belts and lifelines meeting the requirements of  1915.159 and 1915.160.      (a) In drydock Eureka on board the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in number 3 deep tank starboard on or about February 11, 2012, and at times prior thereto, scaffolds, ladders or safety belts and lifelines were not used when there were no guardrails on the ledge where employees were located to clean the tank and where employees were located to prepare for a fire watch or to perform a fire watch.  The ledge was about 11 feet above the bottom of the tank and varied in width from about 3.75 feet on the starboard side of the ship to about 5.66 feet toward the aft side of the ship.  There were about 7 sets 6, 1 inch of pipes, reportedly used to heat the contents of the tank, on the bottom of the tank.  An employee fell from the tank's ledge on February 11, 2012.  On February 17, 2012, shipyard managers stated guardrails would be installed on the tank's ledge before work from the ledge restarted.     THE BAE SYSTEMS SAN FRANCISCO SHIP REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1915.73(D) WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN INSPECTION NUMBER 311409528, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 7, ISSUED ON APRIL 28, 2008, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT BAE SYSTEMS SAN FRANCISCO SHIP REPAIR, FOOT OF 20TH STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.