OSHA has cited a tank cleaning company $171,281 in penalties for confined space, fire, and explosion hazards. OSHA inspectors determined that the company allowed employees to enter a tank without testing for atmospheric hazards. The company was cited for allowing employees to use a non-explosion proof vacuum in a tank that transported a highly hazardous chemical; failing to provide appropriate personal protective clothing; authorizing employees to enter a permit-required confined space without a retrieval system; and failing to ensure confined space testing and monitoring equipment was properly maintained.
The alleged violations below have been grouped because they involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for injury or illness.
Citation 1 Item 1a
Type of Violation: Serious; $8,315
29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to skin hazards by authorizing employees to enter, clean and vacuum liquid out of the tanker that had been used to transport Sodium hydrosulfide Solution which causes severe skin burns without wearing appropriate chemical resistant clothing.
Citation 1 Item 1b
Type of Violation: Serious
29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to eye hazards by authorizing employees to enter, clean and vacuum liquid out of the tanker that had been used to transport Sodium hydrosulfide solution which causes serious eye damage without wearing chemical splash goggles or face shields.
Citation 1 Item 2
Type of Violation: Serious; $11,641
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not ensure that testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5) was maintained properly:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to confined space hazards by authorizing employees to enter permit space of the tanker that had been used to transport Sodium hydrosulfide solution without ensuring that testing and monitoring equipment was maintained properly.
The oxygen sensor on the testing equipment was not working.
Citation 1 Item 3
Type of Violation: Serious; $11,641
29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CPR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to confined space hazards by authorizing employees to enter into permit space of the tanker that had been used to transport Sodium Hydrosulfide solution without preparing an entry permit.
The alleged violations below have been grouped because they involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for injury or illness.
Citation 1 Item 4a
Type of Violation: Serious; $11,641
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3): Whenever an authorized entrant entered a permit space to perform rescue services, retrieval systems or methods were not used to facilitated non-entry:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to permit space hazards by authorizing employees to enter a permit-required confined space that had been used to transport Sodium hydrosulfide solution without using a retrieval system.
Citation 1 Item 4b
Type of Violation: Serious
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3)(i): Each authorized entrant did not use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant’s back near shoulder level, or above the entrant’s head:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to permit space hazards by authorizing employees to enter a permit-required confined space tanker that had been used to transport Sodium Hydrosulfide without the company having ensured that each entrant was wearing a full body harness with a retrieval line attached.
Citation 1 Item 4c
Type of Violation: Serious
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3)(ii): An authorized entrant entered a permit space and did not have the other end of the retrieval line attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space in such a manner that rescue could begin as soon as the rescuer becomes aware that rescue is necessary:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to permit space hazards by authorizing employees to enter a permit-required confined space that had been used to transport Sodium Hydrosulfide without attaching the retrieval line to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space.
Citation 1 Item 5
Type of Violation: Serious; $11,641
29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards in that employees were required to use a Shop Vac Series K wet-dry vacuum to vacuum liquids out from permit-required confined space of the tanker. The vacuum was not explosion proof and was not listed or labeled for that use and cannot be used when flammable materials or vapors are present.
Citation 2 Item 1
Type of Violation: Willful; $116,402
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(iii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), when testing for atmospheric hazards, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors:
(a) On or about April 13, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to asphyxiation, fire and explosion hazards by authorizing employees to enter permit space that had been used to transport Sodium Hydrosulfide solution without evaluating permit space conditions. The employer did not test for atmospheric hazards in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin.
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