EVANSTON, IL —
OSHA Inspection: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Unprogrammed Related inspection · Safety discipline
At a glance
On , OSHA opened an unprogrammed Related safety inspection of NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY in 2170 CAMPUS DR., EVANSTON, IL 60201 (NAICS 611310). OSHA activity number 344386941.
What this inspection record means
OSHA opens inspections for many reasons — routine scheduling under a national or local emphasis program, an employee complaint or referral, or a follow-up after a reported injury. Opening or conducting an inspection is not itself an allegation or a finding that this employer broke any rule; any findings appear as the citations listed below, and citations can be contested, reduced, or withdrawn.
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Where did this inspection happen?
- Establishment
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Site address
- 2170 CAMPUS DR.
- City
- EVANSTON
- State
- IL
- ZIP
- 60201
- Mailing
- 2020 RIDGE AVENUE SUITE 240, EVANSTON, IL 60208
What kind of inspection was it?
- Inspection type
- Unprogrammed Related (G)
- Scope
- Partial (B)
- Discipline
- Safety
- Advance notice
- No
- Union status
- B
When did the case open and close?
- Opened
- Closing conference
- Case closed
- Last modified
- Data loaded
Establishment context
- NAICS code
- 611310
- Employees
- 50
- Ownership type
- A
Citations
16 citations on file for this inspection.
1910.146 C02
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): Where the workplace contained permit spaces, the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not inform exposed employees by posting danger signs, or by any other equally effective means, that steam vaults 13, 14, and 15 on the Evanston Campus were permit-required confined spaces and that steam vaults 13, 14, and 15 posed dangers to entrants. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 C08 I
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8)(i): When an employer (host employer) arranged to have employees of another employer (contractor) perform work that involved permit space entry, the host employer did not inform the contractor that the workplace contained permit spaces and that permit space entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.146: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 13 and did not inform the contractors that entry into steam vault 13 was allowed only through compliance with a permit space program that met OSHA's standard for permit-required confined space entry. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 14 and did not inform the contractors that entry into steam vault 14 was allowed only through compliance with a permit space program that met OSHA's standard for permit-required confined space entry. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 C08 III
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8)(iii): When an employer (host employer) arranged to have employees of another employer (contractor) perform work that involved permit space entry, the host employer did not apprise the contractor of any precautions or procedures that the host employer had implemented for the protection of employees in or near permit spaces where contractor personnel would be working: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 13 and did not apprise the contractors of precautions and procedures dealing with topics such as adequate isolation of the steam hazard, testing and monitoring of the potentially hazardous atmosphere, the permit system, non-entry rescue, and rescue and emergency services. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 14 and did not apprise the contractors of precautions and procedures dealing with topics such as adequate isolation of the steam hazard, testing and monitoring of the potentially hazardous atmosphere, the permit system, non-entry rescue, and rescue and emergency services. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 C08 IV
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8)(iv): When an employer (host employer) arranged to have employees of another employer (contractor) perform work that involved permit space entry, the host employer did not coordinate entry operations with the contactor, when both host employer personnel and contractor personnel would be working in or near permit spaces: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged for contractor Hill Mechanical Corp. to perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 13 and did not coordinate entry operations with the contractors when the host employer's personnel were also involved in the permit space entry. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 D11
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(11): Under the permit space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement procedures to coordinate entry operations when employees of more than one employer were working simultaneously as authorized entrants in a permit space, so that employees of one employer do not endanger the employees of any other employer: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement procedures to coordinate entry operations with a contractor for entry into steam vault 13, which involved an entry by a Northwestern University employee and an entry by a Hill Mechanical Corp. employee for the purpose of observing a steam leak and evaluating valve configuration. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 D02
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(2): Under the permit space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees entered them: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University had not identified and evaluated the hazards associated with high-pressure steam in steam vaults such as steam vault 13, 14, and 15 before employees entered on October 10, 2019. The employer's confined space assessments for these spaces did not include the hazard posed by high-pressure steam. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 D03 III
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iii): Under the permit 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, but not limited to, isolating the permit space: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary to isolate steam vault 13 from the hazard posed by high-pressure steam prior to separate entries by a Northwestern University employee for (1) the observation of a steam leak and the evaluation of valve configuration and (2) the actuation (closure) of a valve. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary to isolate steam vault 14 from the hazard posed by high-pressure steam prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the retrieval of a broken part and the evaluation of the need for repairs. (c) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary to isolate steam vault 15 from the hazard posed by high-pressure steam prior to two separate entries by Northwestern University employees for the actuation (closing and opening) of a valve. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 D03 VI
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(vi): Under the permit space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to, verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for verifying acceptable conditions related to high-pressure steam and potential atmospheric hazards in steam vault 13 prior to separate entries by a Northwestern University employee for (1) the observation of a steam leak and the evaluation of valve configuration and (2) the actuation (closure) of a valve. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for verifying acceptable conditions related to high-pressure steam and potential atmospheric hazards in steam vault 14 prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the retrieval of a broken part and the evaluation of the need for repairs. (c) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for verifying acceptable conditions related to high pressure steam and potential atmospheric hazards in steam vault 15 prior to two separate entries by Northwestern University employees for the actuation (closing and opening) of a valve. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 D05 I
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $8,675 · Current $9,408
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not test atmospheric conditions in steam vault 13 for the potential atmospheric hazards identified by the employer (such as oxygen deficiency, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide) prior to separate entries by a Northwestern University employee for (1) the observation of a steam leak and the evaluation of valve configuration and (2) the actuation (closure) of a valve. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not test atmospheric conditions in steam vault 15 for the potential atmospheric hazards identified by the employer (such as oxygen deficiency, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide) prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the actuation (closure) of a valve. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (O) $9407.55
- — C (S) $8675
- — Z (S) $8675
1910.146 D14
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(14): Under the permit space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not review the permit space program, using the canceled permits retained under 29 CFR 1910.146(e)(6) within 1 year after each entry and revise the program as necessary, to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are protected from permit space hazards: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University had not reviewed their permit-required confined space program, using cancelled permits, to ensure that employees performing permit-required confined space entries were protected from permit-required confined space hazards. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 E01
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
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 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not prepare and complete entry permits for steam vault 13 prior to separate entries by a Northwestern University employee for (1) the observation of a steam leak and the evaluation of valve configuration and (2) the actuation (closure) of a valve. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not prepare and complete an entry permit for steam vault 14 prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the retrieval of a broken part and the evaluation of the need for repairs. (c) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not prepare and complete an entry permit for steam vault 15 prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the actuation (closure) of a valve. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 K01 I
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(i): When designating rescue and emergency services pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9), the employer did not evaluate the prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazard(s) identified: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University had not fully evaluated the Evanston Fire Department's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner for steam vaults 13, 14, and 15 prior to entry into those spaces. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.55
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 K01 IV
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(iv): When designating rescue and emergency services pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9), the employer did not inform each rescue team or service of the hazards they may confront when called on to perform rescue at the site: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University had not informed the Evanston Fire Department of the hazards associated with steam vaults 13, 14, and 15 prior to entry into those spaces. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 K01 V
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(v): When designating rescue and emergency services pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9), the employer did not provide the rescue team or service selected with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary so that the rescue service could develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University had not provided the Evanston Fire Department with access to steam vaults 13, 14, and 15 for rescue planning and practice prior to entry into those spaces. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
1910.146 K03
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $12,145 · Current $9,408 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3): To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods were not used whenever an authorized entrant entered a permit space: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not utilize a non-entry rescue retrieval system at steam vault 13 prior to separate entries by a Northwestern University employee for (1) the observation of a steam leak and the evaluation of valve configuration and (2) the actuation (closure) of a valve. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University did not utilize a non-entry rescue retrieval system at steam vault 15 prior to an entry by a Northwestern University employee for the actuation (closure) of a valve. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (S) $9407.6
- — C (S) $12145
- — Z (S) $12145
1910.146 C08 II
- Issued
- Apr 1, 2020
- Abate by
- Apr 29, 2020
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8)(ii): When an employer (host employer) arranged to have employees of another employer (contractor) perform work that involved permit space entry, the host employer did not apprise the contractor of the elements, including the hazards identified and the host employer's experience with the space, that make the space in question a permit space: (a) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 13 and did not apprise the contractors of the elements that made steam vault 13 a permit space. (b) On October 10, 2019, Northwestern University arranged to have two separate contractors (Hill Mechanical Corp. and National Heat & Power Corp.) perform work that involved permit space entry in steam vault 14 and did not apprise the contractors of the elements that made steam vault 14 a permit space. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.
Recent events (3)
- — F (O) $0
- — C (S) $0
- — Z (S) $0
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Source
This record is reproduced from the U.S. Department of Labor Open Data API (OSHA inspection dataset). The original IMIS detail view is available at OSHA's Establishment Search for activity number 344386941.
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