OSHA Inspection: ENVIROTECH SERVICES

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(2)(i):  The employer did not provide either a full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes or a combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply for employee use in Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmospheres:    (a)  Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017 the employer did not provide either a full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes or a combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply for employees to use in IDLH atmospheres.  Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed.  The attendant also collapsed after entering the railway tank car.  The responding rescue agency determined that the percent oxygen inside the tank car was approximately 5%. The railway tank car contained an IDLH atmosphere. Respiratory protection for an IDLH atmosphere was not provided.  This condition exposed three employees to an oxygen deficient IDLH atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(3)(i):  One employee or, when needed, more than one employee was not located outside the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere to provide emergency rescue:    (a)  Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017 the employer did not ensure that one employee or, when needed, more than one employee was located outside the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue.  Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed.  The attendant also collapsed after entering the railway tank car.  The responding rescue agency determined that the percent oxygen inside the tank car was approximately 5%. The railway tank car contained an IDLH atmosphere.  An employee was not located outside the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue. This condition exposed three employees to an oxygen deficient IDLH atmosphere.    Abatement Note: Procedures for IDLH atmospheres shall include:    1.  Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the employee(s) in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere.  2.  The employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue.  3.  The employer is notified before the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue.  4.  The employer, once notified, provides necessary assistance appropriate to the situation.  5.  Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are equipped with pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBA's, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied air respirator with auxiliary SCBA.  6.  Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are equipped with appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee(s) who enter(s) these hazardous atmospheres.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iv): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations including, purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards:    (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations including, purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control the atmospheric hazards. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed.  The attendant also collapsed after entering the railway tank car.  The responding rescue agency determined that the percent oxygen inside the tank car was approximately 5%. The railway tank car contained an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere. Ventilation equipment and procedures for safe permit entry were not implemented to control or eliminate the atmospheric hazard.  This condition exposed three employees to an IDLH atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin and the employer did not continuously monitor in the areas where authorized entrants were working:    (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin and the employer did not continuously monitor in the areas where authorized entrants were working. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed.  The attendant also collapsed after entering the railway tank car.  The responding rescue agency determined that the percent oxygen inside the tank car was approximately 5%. The railway tank car contained an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH)  atmosphere. The permit space conditions were not tested prior to entry and the entry conditions were not continuously monitored.  This condition exposed three employees to an IDLH atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.14(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:     (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) of 29 CFR 1910.146 by preparing an entry permit before entry was authorized. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  An entry permit was not completed prior to entry.  This condition exposed three employees to an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(i)(4): The employer did not ensure the attendant remained outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant:    (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not ensure that the attendant remained outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant.  Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  While working in the railway tank car the entrant collapsed.  The entrant was not connected to a retrieval system.  The attendant entered the railway tank car to attempt to rescue the entrant.  This condition exposed two employees to an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(j)(4):  The employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor verified that rescue services were available and that the means for summoning them were operable:    (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor verified that rescue services were available and that the means for summoning them were operable. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  The employer relied on the local fire department for rescue services.  Prior to entry, the entry supervisor did not verify that the local fire department was available and that phones or other communication systems to contact the fire department were functional.  This condition exposed three employees to an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(i): The employer did not evaluate a prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazards identified:    (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not evaluate a prospective rescue service's ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the permit space or types of permit spaces identified.  Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit confined space.  While working in the railway tank car, the entrant collapsed and the attendant and supervisor attempted to rescue the entrant. The employer relied on the local fire department for rescue services.  The local fire department was not equipped with permit required confined space rescue.  The employer did not evaluate the local fire department's capabilities for permit's required confined space rescue.  This condition exposed three employees to an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8315.00 · Current $8315.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3):  The employer did not ensure retrieval systems or methods were used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space:     (a) Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not ensure a retrieval system or method was used when an authorized entrant entered the permit space. Two employees were tasked with cleaning a railway tank car that previously contained glycerol.  The employer determined the railway tank car was a permit required confined space.  While working in the railway tank car, the entrant collapsed and the attendant and supervisor attempted to rescue the entrant. The entrant who entered the confined space was not wearing a chest or full body harness and a retrieval system was not in place.  This condition exposed three employees to an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.      Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").    Retrieval systems shall meet the following requirements:     1) Each authorized entrant shall use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant's back near shoulder level, above the entrant's head, or at another point which the employer can establish presents a profile small enough for the successful removal of the entrant. Wristlets may be used in lieu of the chest or full body harness if the employer can demonstrate that the use of a chest or full body harness is infeasible or creates a greater hazard and that the use of wristlets is the safest and most effective alternative.     2) The other end of the retrieval line shall be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space in such a manner that rescue can begin as soon as the rescuer becomes aware that rescue is necessary. A mechanical device shall be available to retrieve personnel from vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet (1.52 m) deep.

Issued

2018-05-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6652.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    (a)  Envirotech Services, Inc. at 6850 47th Ave, Evans, CO: On 12/5/2017, the employer did not ensure that a written hazard communication program was developed and implemented for the establishment. The employer did not have a written hazard communication program that was aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The employer manufactured deicing and dust control products. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.