OSHA Inspection: AMSTAR OF WESTERN NEW YORK, INC.

Issued

May 19, 2014

Abate by

May 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(6)(i): All 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. The employer did not comply with any specific regulations that apply to work in dangerous or potentially dangerous areas:    Worksite: When employees entered into an empty water tank (approximately 500,000 gallon capacity) to conduct welding and repair activiites, the employer was deficient in following all of the required confined space rules to maintain the health and safety of the workers.  These deficiencies included, but were not limited to,:  1) Not evaluating the work space to determine if the space is a permit-required confined space;  2) Not following a permit-required confined space entry system to ensure adequate supplied airflow, which controls and protects employees from hazards generated during work inside the permit space;  3) Not conducting continuous monitoring for oxygen, carbon monoxide, flammable gases, and any other recognized hazards that may be generated while employees were conducting welding operations inside the water tank;  4) Not calibrating, maintaining, and using a gas meter during confined space welding activities. The meter had not been calibrated since November 2013, the batteries used to power the unit were "dead", and the employer had no more batteries on site to power the meter.