OSHA Inspection: CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i): The employer shall provide a respirator that is adequate to protect the health of the employee and ensure compliance with all other OSHA statutory and regulatory requirements, under routine and foreseeable emergency situations.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer authorized an employee entering rail tank car GATX 28821, containing residual PCBs and transformer oil, to wear a full-face air-purifying respirator (APR) when the employer had determined that a full-face supplied air respirator (SAR) was necessary to protect the health of the employee entering the space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Provide the following equipment (specified in paragraphs (d)(4)(i) through (d)(4)(ix) of 1910.146) at no cost to employees, maintain that equipment properly, and ensure that employees use that equipment properly: Testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with paragraph (d)(5) of 1910.146.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that the MSA Altair 5X Multigas Detector (s/n 104307) provided to assess atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, was bump tested per the manufacturer's recommendations prior to use.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that a rescue plan was developed and implemented prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Provide the following equipment (specified in paragraphs (d)(4)(i) through (d)(4)(ix) of 1910.146) at no cost to employees, maintain that equipment properly, and ensure that employees use that equipment properly: Testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with paragraph (d)(5) of 1910.146.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that the MSA Altair 5X Multigas Detector (s/n 104307) provided to assess atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, was zero calibrated per the manufacturer's recommendations prior to use.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Provide the following equipment (specified in paragraphs (d)(4)(i) through (d)(4)(ix) of 1910.146) at no cost to employees, maintain that equipment properly, and ensure that employees use that equipment properly: Testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with paragraph (d)(5) of 1910.146.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that the MSA Altair 5X Multigas Detector (s/n 104307) provided to assess atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, was span calibrated per the manufacturer's recommendations prior to use.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(j)(4):  The employer shall ensure that each entry supervisor: Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that the entry supervisor had verified that outside rescue services were available prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(iv):  An employer who designates rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of 1910.146, shall: Inform each rescue team or service of the hazards they may confront when called on to perform rescue at the site.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer did not inform outside rescue services of the hazards they may confront when called to perform rescue at the site prior to authorizing entry of a company employee into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(k)(1)(v):  An employer who designates rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of 1910.146, shall:  Provide the rescue team or service selected with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary so that the rescue service can develop rescue plans and practice rescue operations.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer did not ensure that outside rescue services were provided with prior access to the permit space prior to authorizing entry of a company employee into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(3): The completed permit shall be made available at the time of entry to all authorized entrants or their authorized representatives, by posting it at the entry portal or by any other equally effective means, so that the entrants can confirm that pre-entry preparations have been completed.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The entry permit was not posted at the entry portal, or otherwise made available through other equally effective means, prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(h)(1): The employer shall ensure that all authorized entrants: Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer did not ensure that the authorized entrant knew the hazards that may be faced during entry prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, containing residual PCBs and transformer oil.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(i)(1): The employer shall ensure that each attendant knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer did not ensure that each attendant knew the hazards that may be faced during entry prior to allowing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, containing residual PCBs and transformer oil.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(j)(2):  The employer shall ensure that each entry supervisor:  Verifies, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: Prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, the entry supervisor endorsed the permit prior to ensuring that all appropriate entries were made on the permit, that all tests specified were conducted, and that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit were in place.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(2)(iv): An employer whose employees have been designated to provide permit space rescue and emergency services shall take the following measures:  Ensure that affected employees practice making permit space rescues at least once every 12 months, by means of simulated rescue operations in which they remove dummies, manikins, or actual persons from the actual permit spaces or from representative permit spaces.  Representative permit spaces shall, with respect to opening size, configuration, and accessibility, simulate the types of permit spaces from which rescue is to be performed.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer had not ensured that company employees designated to provide limited entry rescue services had been provided with the necessary practice on entry rescue concurrent with their expected roles prior to authorizing entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $16,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iv):  Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to the following: Purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not ensure that rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, was ventilated to eliminate an oxygen deficient atmosphere prior to authorizing entry.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $16,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(vi):  Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to the following: Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not verify that the atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, were acceptable before allowing entry and remained acceptable during the entry.  The rail tank car contained an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall: Evaluate permit space conditions as follows when entry operations are conducted: Test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not verify that the atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, were acceptable before authorizing entry.  The rail tank car contained an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 1910.146, the employer shall:  Evaluate permit space conditions as follows when entry operations are conducted: Test or monitor the permit space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during the course of entry operations.  a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH:  The employer did not verify that the atmospheric conditions within rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space, were acceptable for the duration of entry.  The rail tank car contained an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $16,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3): To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant.  (a) On January 10, 2025, at the Emerald Transformer job site in Twinsburg, OH: The employer did not ensure that non-entry retrieval systems were utilized for entry and during entry into rail tank car GATX 28821, a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Jul 8, 2025

Abate by

Aug 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(14): Review the permit space program, using the canceled permits retained under paragraph (e)(6) of this section within 1 year after each entry and revise the program as necessary, to ensure that employees participating in the entry operations are protected from permit space hazards.  Respondent failed to review canceled permits within 1 year after entry and revise its program if necessary to ensure employees participating in entry operations remain protected from permit space hazards.