OSHA Inspection: OHIO VALLEY ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Abate by

Dec 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,771 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(a)(2)(i)(A): Each employee shall be trained in, and familiar with, the safety-related work practices, safety procedures, and other safety requirements in this section that pertain to his or her job assignments.   a. On or about August 3, 2020, the employer did not ensure that employees performing troubleshooting and repair work on a 4,000 volt breaker followed established practices for the control of arc flash hazards

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,771 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(c)(1)(ii): The employer shall ensure that the employee in charge conducts a job briefing that meets paragraphs (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) of this section with the employees involved before they start each job.   a. On or about August 3, 2020, the employer did not ensure that a job briefing was conducted prior to employees performing troubleshooting and repair work on a 4,000 volt breaker.

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,771 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(6): The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall include the following elements and actions, and these procedures shall be performed as required by 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(6)(i) through (d)(6)(vii).    a. On or about August 3, 2020, employees were exposed to electrical arc flash and shock hazards during troubleshooting and repair work performed on an energized 4,000 volt Pulverizer & Pulverizer Fan No. 6 breaker. The employer did not ensure that energy control applications steps were implemented as the switchgear buss was not de-energized to perform the work [per the 1910.269(d)(6)(ii) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving electrical energy isolation [(d)(6)(iii)], LOTO device application [(d)(6)(iv), and verification of isolation [(d)(6)(vii)], were not implemented to protect employees from electrical hazards.

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(8)(ii): When servicing or maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department, or other group, they shall use a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device. Group lockout or tagout devices shall be used in accordance with the procedures required by paragraphs (d)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iv) of this section.     a. On or about August 3, 2020, employees were exposed to electrical arc flash and shock hazards during troubleshooting and repair work performed on an energized 4,000 volt Pulverizer & Pulverizer Fan No. 6 breaker. The employer did not ensure that group lockout or tagout was performed.

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Abate by

Nov 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iv): The procedure shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, responsibility, authorization, rules, and techniques to be applied to the control of hazardous energy, and the measures to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iv)(A) through (d)(2)(iv)(D).  a.  On or about August 3, 2020 specific steps were not utilized to implement and verify the effectiveness of energy control procedures including steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout/tagout devices while working on the Unit 5 4KV B Buss breaker.�

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,771 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(l)(3)(iii): The employer shall ensure that no employee approaches or takes any conductive object closer to exposed energized parts than the employer's established minimum approach distance.   a. On or about August 3, 2020, employees were performing troubleshooting and repair work within the minimum approach distance of an energized 4,000 volt breaker, Pulverizer & Pulverizer Fan No. 6. Visual inspection and removal of breaker components by hand and with a non-insulated ratchet wrench exposed employees to an arc flash and electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Oct 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,771 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(v): The employer shall ensure that each employee exposed to hazards from electric arcs wears protective clothing and other protective equipment with an arc rating greater than or equal to the heat energy estimated under paragraph (l)(8)(ii) of this section whenever that estimate exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2. This protective equipment shall cover the employee's entire body.   a. On or about August 3, 2020, the employer did not ensure that employees utilized adequate personal protective equipment while performing troubleshooting and repair work on an energized 4,000 volt breaker, Pulverizer & Pulverizer Fan No. 6, thereby exposing employees to arc flash and blast hazards.