OSHA Inspection: AQUA AMERICA, INC.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): Handrails were not provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending:    a)      Aqua New Jersey  Boulderfield site Well #1, Bunnvale, NJ:  The eight (8) steps (approximately 55 in width) closed stairway was not provided with handrails.        Condition noted on/or about March 26, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1):  The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:        a)      Aqua New Jersey  Employee work sites such as, but not limited to North Road site (Bunnvale), Oak Hills site (Vernon), NJ, etc.:  The Employer did not evaluate if hazardous atmosphere and/or safety hazards exists in confined spaces employees enter in order to determine if the spaces are permit-required confined spaces.  Employees open a hatch or a four (4) foot door and use a ladder to go underground (approximately 5 feet to 10 feet) in order to access equipment, handle chemicals such as, but not limited to sodium hypochlorite, etc.  Evaluations were not conducted to determine if the confined spaces contain or have the potential to contain atmospheric concentration and/or other hazards capable of causing death, incapacitation, impairment of self-rescue, acute health effects or serious physical harm.       Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:       a)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipsburg, NJ  Aqua New Jersey  Employee worksites such as, but not limited to North Road site (Bunnvale), Oak Hills site (Vernon), NJ, etc.: Employees who enter confined spaces and whose work is regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 were not provided the training necessary to conduct the safe performance of their duties in the spaces.       Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching of flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:      a)      Aqua New Jersey  Employee worksites such as, but not limited to the Brainards, NJ station: Eyewash facilities were not provided within the work areas for immediate emergency use where an employee is exposed corrosive materials such as, but not limited to sodium hypochlorite, etc.      Reference: American national Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment (ANSI Standard Z358.1-2004).       Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:       a)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipsburg, NJ  Where employees are required to use a fire extinguisher during the incipient stage of fire fighting, the Employer did not provide employees an educational program to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards.           Condition noted on/or about March 26, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i):  The written hazard communication program did not include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present, using an identity that was referenced on the appropriate material safety data sheet:       a)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipsburg, NJ  Facility and Employee Worksites: The Employer did not include and/or maintain in the hazard communication program a list of hazardous chemicals employees use at their worksites.  Employees work with chemicals such as, but not limited to the following:    -Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Hydroxide, etc. contained in Sunny Sol 150,   -Potassium hydroxide, etc. contained in OxyChem Caustic Potash Liquid,   -Sodium Carbonate, etc. contained in Thatcher Company Soda Ash,   -etc.         Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i):  The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:     a)      Aqua New Jersey, Brainards, NJ site:  One (1) approximately forty-five (45) gallon white plastic drum containing sodium hypochlorite (1 to 5 water dilution ratio) was not labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemical contained therein.        Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.          b)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipburg, NJ site - Exley Tank Room:  Two (2) four-hundred (400) and one (1) five-hundred (500) gallons storage tank containing sodium hypochlorite were not labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemical contained therein.        Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employees were not provided effective information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(2) and (3) on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced in the work area:    a)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipsburg, NJ  Facility and Employee Worksites: An employee was not provided information/training of the hazardous chemicals in their work areas.  The Employee handle chemicals such as, but not limited to the following:   -Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Hydroxide, etc. contained in Sunny Sol 150,  -Potassium hydroxide, etc. contained in OxyChem Caustic Potash Liquid,   -etc.        Condition noted on/or about March 26, 2014.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:    a)      Aqua New Jersey, Phillipsburg, NJ  Facility: Employees are not provided information/training to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including emergency procedures during a spill release of chemicals such as, but not limited to:    -Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Hydroxide, etc. contained in Sunny Sol 150,   -Potassium hydroxide, etc. contained in OxyChem Caustic Potash Liquid,   -etc.         Condition noted on/or about January 10, 2014.