OSHA Inspection: ANHEUSER BUSCH, INCORPORATED

Issued

Mar 8, 1989

Abate by

Apr 7, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
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employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to
the physiological effects of inhalation of an inert gas (carbon dioxide)
and/or to asphyxiation during entry or work in a confined space
situation.
a) Brewers were exposed to the hazard of asphyxiation (inhalation of
carbon dioxide) during entry and work in "chip tansk"; horizontal
fermentation tank, 54 feet x 11 feet, with manway of 23 inches x 23"
in the brewing cellar. Employees could suffer lung and cardiovascular
and/or death due to excessive carbon dioxide ihalation and/or the
reduction of the partial pressure of oxygen.
Among others, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
this hazard is to implement a confined space entry procedure which
includes but is not limited to the procedures outlined in
ANSI Z117.1-1977.  This would include atmospheric testing for percent
oxygen and carbon dioxide.