OSHA Inspection: TGB, INC.

Issued

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(6)(i): Employees required to enter into confined or enclosed spaces were not instructed as to the nature of the hazards involved, the necessary precautions to be taken, and in the use of protective and emergency equipment required:    a. At I-64 and Newstead, where air chiseling in an 11 ft deep, 42" diameter sanitary/storm water sewer confined space was conducted on September 19, 20, and 23, employees working in the space were exposed to potential hazards; instruction, necessary precautions, and emergency equipment was not provided, including, but not limited to the following:    i. all affected employees were not trained, including on hazards specific to the space entered, operation of the gas monitor, its alarm settings, the gases being monitored, the meaning of fluctuation (range) of readings, and what levels were initially measured before entry was made; in addition, not all employees were trained on the permit system (which was described in the employer's written program), specific communication procedures to ensure the entrant was accounted for at all times, and rescue procedures;    ii. safe entry procedures were not followed;    iii. entry permit procedures were not followed (entry permit system);     iv. gas monitor measurements were not made at all levels of the space according to the manufacturer operation manual (sampling pump and probe so that readings could be measured and immediately observed which is standard industry practice);    v. push/pull air ventilation was not provided instead of the fan that was placed at the top of, but outside, a manhole opening which was 11 ft above the space and approximately 170 ft from where the employees were working inside the space;    vi. emergency rescue equipment was not provided and employees were not trained on rescue procedures.    (Note: the above training, precautions, and rescue equipment and procedures were addressed in the company's confined space written program but were not followed.)

Issued

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain a safety program which provided for frequent and regular inspections of jobsites, materials, and equipment to be made by a competent person (i.e., a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them):    a. At I-64 and Newstead, where air chiseling in an 11 ft deep, 42" diameter sanitary/storm water sewer confined space was conducted on September 19, 20, and 23, employees working in the space were exposed to potential hazards, such as inhalation of air contaminants, a competent person was not present or designated that was able to identify existing hazards and take immediate corrective action to eliminate those hazards.  In addition, adequate inspection was not made to insure that instruction, necessary precautions, and emergency equipment was provided, including, but not limited to the following:    i. that all affected employees were trained, including on hazards specific to the space entered, operation of the gas monitor, its alarm settings, the gases being monitored, the meaning of fluctuation (range) of readings, and what levels were initially measured before entry was made; in addition, that all employees were trained on the permit system (which was described in the employer's written program), specific communication procedures to ensure the entrant was accounted for at all times, and rescue procedures;    ii. that safe entry procedures were followed;    iii. that entry permit procedures were followed (entry permit system);     iv. that gas monitor measurements were made at all levels of the space according to the manufacturer operation manual (sampling pump and probe so that readings could be measured and immediately observed which is standard industry practice);    v. that push/pull air ventilation was provided instead of the fan that was placed at the top of, but outisde, a manhole opening which was 11 ft above the space and approximately 170 ft from where the employees were working inside the space;    vi. that emergency rescue equpment was provided and employees were trained on rescue procedures.    (Note: the above training, precautions, and rescue equipment and procedures were addressed in the company's confined space written program but were not followed.)    b. Inspections were not conducted to prevent unsafe entry into the confined space.  Employees were lowered into the 11 ft deep space by stepping into a sling attached to a truck mounted boom.

Issued

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    a. At I-64 and Newstead, where employees entered a confined space on September 19, 20, and 23, in order to air chisel concrete from the approximate 42" diameter sanitary drain/storm sewer; no methods were used to accurately determine exposure to the dust generated by the work, such as quantitative air sampling.  (Note: quantitative air sampling would be used to determine the need for respiratory protection, what type of respirators would be required, and whether fit testing would be required.)

Issued

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    a. At I-64 and Newstead, where employees entered a confined space on September 19, 20, and 23, in order to air chisel concrete from the approximate 42" diameter sanitary drain/storm sewer; all employees were not provided the information from Appendix D or similar training.  Employees, who were provided cartridge respirators, were not aware of the potential air contaminants that could exist in a sanitary sewer confined space and were not told of the dust levels that existed in the space during chiseling.  All employees were not aware of what type of chemicals would be filtered by the cartridges provided with the respirators.

Issued

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    a. At I-64 and Newstead, where employees entered a confined space on September 19, 20, and 23, in order to air chisel concrete from the approximate 42" diameter sanitary drain/storm sewer, and were provided cartridge respirators with particualte filters, a medical evaluation was not provided to all respirator users.  (Note: a medical evaluation is required for the voluntary use of cartridge respirators.)