OSHA Inspection: LIQUID ENGINEERING CORPORATION

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16131.00 · Current $11292.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.421(d)(2):  Planning of a diving operation did not include an assessment of the safety and health aspects of surface and underwater conditions:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  The employee was cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet, while exposed to underwater entanglement hazards presented by an approximate 90-foot section of 3-inch diameter suction pipe (soft pipe), and an approximate 75-foot length of the surface supplied air umbilical.  The employer did not conduct an adequate assessment of diving operations to ensure necessary controls were included and/or implemented to minimize or prevent entanglement hazards from occurring during underwater activities.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.425(c)(1):  Each surface-supplied air diver was not continuously tended while in the water:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  The employee was not continuously tended while cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet, while working within close proximity to a 90-foot section of 3-inch diameter suction pipe (soft pipe), and an approximate 75-foot length of the surface supplied air umbilical.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16131.00 · Current $11292.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.421(d)(4):  Planning of a diving operation did not include an assessment of the safety and health aspects of thermal protection:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  The employee was cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet with an estimated water temperature of 53.42 degrees Fahrenheit without adequate underlayers to provide effective thermal protection.  The employer did not adequately assess the safety and health aspect of thermal protection by ensuring that the employee was properly protected from cold water conditions.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16131.00 · Current $11292.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.421(d)(9):  Planning of a diving operation did not include an assessment of the safety and health aspects of the emergency procedures:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  While cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet using an approximate 90-foot section of 3-inch diameter suction pipe (soft pipe), the employee's surface supplied air umbilical became entangled in the soft pipe, resulting in the employee being unable to egress from the tank.  The employer did not conduct an adequate assessment of diving operations to ensure necessary measures were included and/or implemented in order to effectively respond to an emergency situation during underwater activities.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16131.00 · Current $11292.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.421(f)(1)(iii):  Dive team members were not briefed on any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  While cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet using an approximate 90-foot section of 3-inch diameter suction pipe (soft pipe), the employee's surface supplied air umbilical became entangled in the soft pipe, resulting in the employee being unable to egress from the tank.  Prior to the dive, employees were not adequately briefed on hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation including, but not limited to, underwater entanglement hazards.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16131.00 · Current $11292.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.422(b)(3):  The employer did not provide means to assist an injured diver from the water or into a bell:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, a fatality of a Liquid Engineering Corporation employee occurred during a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank.  While cleaning sediment at an approximate depth of 24-feet using an approximate 90-foot section of 3-inch diameter suction pipe (soft pipe), the employee's surface supplied air umbilical became entangled in the soft pipe, resulting in the employee being unable to egress from the tank.  The employer did not ensure that an effective means to assist the employee from the water was available and/or operational.

Issued

2024-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4610.00 · Current $3227.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.430(c)(2)(iii):  Breathing gas supply hose connectors were not resistant to accidental disengagement:  (a) Municipal water reservoir; On or about March 23, 2024, the breathing gas supply hose providing surface supplied breathing diving air to an employee performing a commercial diving operation within a 423,000 gallon-capacity potable water tank was attached to a Rolair brand gasoline-powered air compressor, model no. 8422HK30-0133, with a quick connect coupler that was not resistant to accidental disengagement.