OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL GRID PLC

Issued

Nov 30, 2017

Abate by

May 15, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,000

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: (Construction Reference: 1926.59)    (a) On or about 7/11/2017, employees of National Grid Plc were exposed to chemical hazards from mercury exposure because the employer did not ensure that hazard communication training included the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards including but not limited to those associated with liquid mercury and mercury vapor during work removing and around pre-1980 metering and utility equipment.

Issued

Nov 30, 2017

Abate by

Feb 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,158 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(1): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency response plan to handle anticipated emergencies prior to commencement of emergency response operations:    (a) On or about 7/11/2017, employees of National Grid Plc were exposed to chemical hazards from mercury exposure because the employer did not implement an ERP that was able to effectively handle anticipated mercury releases that were known to result in emergency response operations. The ERP lacked up-to-date contacts for safety and health management in the organization, disabling an effective safety and health response for affected staff.

Issued

Nov 30, 2017

Abate by

Feb 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(2)(v): The emergency response plan did not address, to the extent not addressed elsewhere, site security and control:    (a) On or about 7/11/2017, employees of National Grid Plc were exposed to chemical hazards from mercury exposure because the employer did not effectively address site security and control in the ERP for anticipated mercury releases prior to emergency response operations.

Issued

Nov 30, 2017

Abate by

Feb 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(3)(iv): Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees:    (a) On or about 7/11/2017, employees of National Grid Plc were exposed to chemical hazards from mercury exposure because the employer did not ensure that employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees. The employer allowed employees to remain in the space to document the nature of the spill for several minutes without respiratory protection or barrier PPE without first determining the level of hazardous mercury vapor.

Issued

Nov 30, 2017

Abate by

Feb 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.65(q)(6)(ii): First responders at the operational level did not receive at least eight hours of training or did not have sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the areas required by 29 CFR 1926.65(q)(6)(ii)(A) through (q)(6)(ii)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify.    (a) On or about 7/11/2017, employees of National Grid Plc were exposed to chemical hazards from mercury exposure because the employer did not ensure that first responders at the operational level did not receive at least eight hours of training.