OSHA Inspection: AMPERSAND NEW YORK OPERATIONS CO, LLC

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(a)(2)(i)(A): Each employee was not 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) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not provide training or ensure familiarity with the necessary safety-related work practices, procedures, and other safety requirements relevant to this job assignment. Including but not limited to safe work procedures, identification and recognition of arc flash hazards, and use of arc flash protective clothing.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(b):The employer did not provide medical services and first aid as required in 1910.151:  (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized breaker cell during racking-in.  The employer did not provide medical services to render first aid in case of an emergency in that none of the personnel on the jobsite were trained in first aid or CPR, and the employer made no other provisions to provide them.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(c)(1)(ii):The employer did not ensure that the employee in charge conducted a job briefing that met paragraphs (c)(2) though (c)(4) of this section with the employees involved before they start each job:  (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level:  On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized breaker cell during racking-in. The employer did not ensure that the employee in charge conducted a job briefing with the employees the covered the hazards associated, work to be performed, energy controls, PPE requirements and special precautions.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(d)(2)(i):The employer did not establish a LOTO program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure that, before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment is isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not establish a LOTO program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections, for servicing or maintenance of high voltage switchgear and associated equipment.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(d)(2)(iii): Procedures were not developed, documented, and used for the control of potentially hazardous energy covered by paragraph (d) of this section:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not have LOTO procedures developed or documented to perform racking-in/racking-out, or to shut down and deenergize the 4160-volt switchgear and breaker.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(d)(2)(vi): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program were understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls were acquired by employees:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not provide LOTO training to ensure the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls for job task including but not limited to racking circuit breakers in high voltage switchgear.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(d)(2)(vi)(A): Each authorized employee was not trained in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of energy available in the workplace, and in the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not provide authorized employees with training in recognition of hazardous energy sources, such as identification of energized equipment, and the methods and means for energy isolation and control, such as safe energy control procedures for racking circuit breakers in high voltage switchgear.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(d)(3)(i): Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware were not provided by the employer for isolating, securing, or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not have LOTO hardware to safely secure and isolate the 4160-volt switchgear and breaker.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(l)(1)(ii): Where employees work on or near exposed live parts, the employer did not ensure that only qualified employees worked in areas containing unguarded, uninsulated energized lines or parts of equipment operating at 50 volts or more:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not ensure that qualified employees performed servicing and maintenance on high voltage switchgear and associated equipment.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(l)(8)(i): The employer did not assess the workplace to identify employees exposed to hazards from flames or from electric arcs:  (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not assess the workplace to identify employees exposed to hazards from flames or electric arcs such as employees racking in a circuit breaker on high voltage switchgear or working in switchgear with covers off.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(l)(8)(ii): For each employee exposed to hazards from electric arcs, the employer did not make a reasonable estimate of the incident heat energy to which the employee could be exposed:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing experienced an arc flash when the breaker contacted an energized cell during racking-in. The employer did not make a reasonable estimate of the incident heat energy to which the employee could be exposed, such as when racking breakers in high voltage switchgear.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.269(l)(8)(v): The employer did not ensure that each employee exposed to hazards from electric arcs wore protective clothing and other protective equipment that had an arc rating greater than or equal to the heat energy estimated under paragraph (l)(8)(ii) of this section whenever that estimate exceeded 2.0 Cal/cm2:   (a) Mount Ida Hydro Station, Control room level: On or about May 21, 2024, employees were conducting maintenance on an Allis Chalmers MA-250C circuit breaker in a 4160-volt switchgear housing.  The employer failed to provide the employees with FR clothing, rubber insulating glove, heavy-duty work shoes, and head protection.