OSHA Inspection: USPS

Issued

Oct 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A): The employer did not provide fire watchers whenever welding or cutting was performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop:    On or about July 16, 2015:  An employee performing hot work to cut a 4.5 inch square drain plug on top of a 55-gallon drum that previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate, was exposed to flash fire hazards in that fire watchers were not provided during the cutting operations.

Issued

Oct 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iv): Before cutting or welding is permitted, the area where cutting and welding is permitted was not inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing cutting or welding operations and designating precautions to be followed, preferably in the form of a written permit:    On or about July 16, 2015:  An employee performing hot work to cut a 4.5 inch square drain plug on top of a 55-gallon drum that previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate, was exposed to flash fire hazards in that the area where the cutting was performed, including the drum which was being cut, had not been inspected and precautions were not designated before the work commenced. A written hot work permit was not completed prior to beginning the task.

Issued

Oct 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(C): Cutting or welding was permitted in the presence of explosive atmospheres (mixture of flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts with air), or explosive atmospheres that could develop inside uncleaned or improperly prepared tanks or equipment which had previously contained such materials:  On or about July 16, 2015:  An employee performing hot work to cut a 4.5 inch square drain plug on top of a 55-gallon drum that previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate, was exposed to flash fire hazards in that cutting was permitted in the presence of flammable atmospheres.

Issued

Oct 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(3)(i): Welding, cutting, or other hot work was performed on used drums, barrels, tanks, or other containers that had not been cleaned so thoroughly as to make absolutely certain there were no flammable materials present or any substances such as greases, tars, acids, or other materials which where subjected to heat, might produce flammable or toxic vapors:  On or about July 16, 2015:  An employee performing hot work to cut a 4.5 inch square drain plug on top of a 55-gallon drum that previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate, was exposed to flash fire hazards in that the 55 gallon drum which previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate had not been cleaned so thoroughly as to make absolutely certain that there are no residues, no build-up pressure, no flammable materials present or any substances such as greases, tars, acids, or other materials which when subjected to heat, might produce flammable or toxic vapors.

Issued

Oct 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(3)(ii): All hollow spaces, cavities, or containers were not vented to permit the escape of air or gases before preheating, cutting, or welding was performed:    On or about July 16, 2015:  An employee performing hot work to cut a 4.5 inch square drain plug on top of a 55-gallon drum that previously contained Windshield Washer Concentrate, was exposed to flash fire hazards in that the drum being cut had not been vented and purged to permit the escape of air or gases as to make certain that there are no build-up pressure that when subjected to heat, might produce flammable, explosion or toxic vapors.