OSHA Inspection: UTILITY SERVICE NEW ENGLAND

Issued

Jun 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,535 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(a)(1): Employees were permitted to work in proximity to electric power circuits and were not protected against electric shock by de-energizing and grounding the circuits or effectively guarding the circuits by insulation or other means:      USNE,730 Worcester Road, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts; On or about December 28, 2016 employees were exposed to 13,800 volts while working on the line side of the ACD-2/3 door #4.  The bus bars inside the line side were not protected from incidental contact nor was the line side de-energized or locked out to prevent exposure to the live electrical equipment.

Issued

Jun 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(a)(3): Employer did not post or maintain proper warning signs at locations where the performance of the work could bring a person, tool, or machine into physical or electrical contact with an energized electrical power circuit:    USNE, ACD-2/3, 730 Worcester Road, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts; On or before December 28, 2016 employees were exposed to 13,800 VAC when opening door 4 of ACD-2/3 to perform shield and phase testing.  The door nor circuit were marked as being energized to warn the employees of the energized bus bars inside.

Issued

Jun 13, 2017

Abate by

Jun 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $5,070

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.960(g)(3): Prohibited clothing. The employer did not ensure that each employee who was exposed to hazards from flames or electric arcs was not wearing clothing that could melt onto his or her skin or that could ignite and continue to burn when exposed to flames or the heat energy estimated under paragraph (g)(2) of this section.    Note to paragraph (g)(3): This paragraph prohibits clothing made from acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon and polypropylene, either alone or in blends, unless the employer demonstrates that the fabric has been treated to withstand the conditions that may be encountered by the employee or that the employee wears the clothing in such a manner as to eliminate the hazard involved.  Utility Services New England, 730 Worcester Road; On or about December 28, 2016 an employee suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns as a result of an arc blast accident.  The employee was wearing a sweatshirt, gloves, and head covering that were made of poly blend materials which melted to the employee as a result of the accident. During the investigation of this accident, other employees were observed wearing clothing that could melt to their skin including reflective vests that were not FR or ARC rated.