OSHA Inspection: WATERFORD TANK & FABRICATION, LTD

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Nov 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):     Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides:    a) At the establishment, employees working on an elevated platform to remove welding splatter were not portected by standard railing exposing the employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(2):     Identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees enter them;      a) At the establishment, employees fabricating water tanks, entered the tanks to perform interior welding. The tanks were permit-required confined spaces and employees were exposed to inhalation hazards. The confined spaces hazards had not been identified and evaluated prior to entry. Inhalation hazards included, but were not limited to, the shielding gas (carbon dioxide) and the decomposition products of welding such as carbon monoxide.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i):     Test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin, except that, if isolation of the space is infeasible because the space is large or is part of a continuous system (such as a sewer), pre-entry testing shall be performed to the extent feasible before entry is authorized and, if entry is authorized, entry conditions shall be continuously monitored in the areas where authorized entrants are working;    a) At the establishment, employees entered fabricated water tanks, permit-required confined spaces, and pre-entry testing had not been conducted exposing employees to inhalation hazards. Pre-entry testing includes, but is not limited to, the testing of the tank's atmosphere to ensure that the atmosphere was not oxygen deficient, that the atmosphere was not toxic, and that the atmosphere was not explosive.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6):     Provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry is authorized for the duration of entry operations;     NOTE: Attendants may be assigned to monitor more than one permit space provided the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored. Likewise, attendants may be stationed at any location outside the permit space to be monitored as long as the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored.    a) At the establishment, employees fabricating water tanks entered the tanks to perform interior welding. The tanks were permit-required confined spaces and employees were not protected by an outside attendant exposing employees to contact and inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1):     Before entry is authorized, the employer shall document the completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) of this section by preparing an entry permit.     a) At the establishment, employees fabricating water tanks, entered the tanks to perform interior welding. The tanks were permit-required confined spaces and employees entered the confined spaces without first completing entry permits exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1):     The employer shall provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by this section acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this section.    a) At the establishment, confined space authorized entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors had not received the training required to ensure that the company's permit-required confined space program was implemented prior to employees entering permit-required confined spaces.

Issued

Sep 20, 2012

Abate by

Oct 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1):     The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    a) At the establishment a job hazard analysis had not been developed and implemented to determine the personal protective equipment required to protect employees. Employees used paints, solvents, cleaners, and interior flux core welding wire exposing them to contact and inhalation hazards.