OSHA Inspection: DRAKE ASSOCIATES, INC., - THE UNDERWATER AUTHORITY

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $750.00 · Current $375.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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 hazardous atmospheres when
entering into and performing work within confined spaces:
Yellow Mill River Siphons, Bridgeport, CT:  Employees who were required to
enter a sewer manhole and
sewer siphon to perform work and rescue duties were potentially exposed to
hazardous atmospheres as
follows:
a) On or about January 3, 2001:  The internal atmospheric conditions of
the east side sewer manhole and the
de-watered portion of the north sewer siphon were not tested while
employees were in the spaces or prior to
entry during the rescue of a diver who became unconscious in the north
siphon.  Employees who entered the
spaces did not wear respiratory protection for IDLH atmospheres.  The
manhole had pipe openings for the
north siphon, south siphon, and the receiving pipe for raw sewage.  The
manhole
space and the de-watered
portion of the north siphon that employees entered were not isolated to
prevent entry of a hazardous
atmosphere from other parts of the sewer system.
b) On or about January 17, 2001:  The internal atmospheric conditions of
the east side sewer manhole were
not tested immediately prior to entry and were not tested while an
employee worked in the space as a stand-by
diver.  While the stand-by diver stood in the manhole, respiratory
protection for an IDLH atmosphere was not
worn.  The manhole had pipe openings for the north siphon, south siphon,
and the receiving pipe for raw
sewage.  The manhole space and the de-watered portion of the north siphon
that employees entered were not
isolated to prevent entry of a hazardous atmosphere from other parts of
the sewer system.
Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to the following:
1. Identification of confined spaces and the potential hazards present in
confined spaces.
2. Develop, implement, and ensure the use of appropriate confined space
entry
procedures.
3. Perform atmospheric testing of the confined space with direct reading
air monitoring instruments that are
properly calibrated and maintained.
4.  Perform atmospheric testing of the confined space prior to an employee
entering the space, periodically
while the employee is in the space, and if the atmosphere of the space
cannot be isolated such as in a sewer
system, continuously monitor the air space were employees are working.
5. Provide and ensure the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
6. Develop procedures for emergencies and ensure that appropriate rescue
of confined space entrants is being
provided.
7. Provide information and training to affected employees on the potential
hazard(s) associated with the
confined space; calibration, use, and maintenance of direct reading
atmospheric monitoring instruments; the
use of engineering controls; the selection and use of personal protective
equipment; means of communication
between the confined space entrant(s) and attendant(s); and emergency
procedures for the rescue of the
entrant(s).
Abatement Documentation Required For This Item

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $750.00 · Current $375.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $750.00 · Current $375.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-09 00:00:00

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-09 00:00:00

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $750.00 · Current $375.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $450.00 · Current $225.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $600.00 · Current $275.00 Reduced

Issued

2001-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-09-30 00:00:00