Confined spaces are harmless as long as they are not occupied. But when workers enter a confined space to inspect the equipment, fix leaks, or do construction work, they can encounter toxic gasses, corrosive chemicals, flammable solvents, or machines that start unexpectedly. A confined space can be difficult or impossible to exit if something goes wrong. […]
Cal/OSHA cited Artesia-based Express Chipping, Inc. following the death of a 40-year-old worker who was chipping concrete inside a cement mixer when a 1,200-pound concrete slab struck him. Cal/OSHA cited the company for failing to identify the hazards of working within the confined space of the mixer and failing to train its workers about this
I am in NO WAY associated with this company, I have spoken to NO ONE at this company and I am in NO WAY compensated for this posting. This is just a neat product that I wish I could have had access to when I was a safety manager in petrochem and I thought many
In September 2010, a male worker (Victim I), 48, employed by a village Department of Public Works (DPW) and a male volunteer firefighter (Victim II), 51, of the village Fire Department (FD) died after entering a sewer manhole. The manhole was located behind the firehouse. The Fire Chief and a firefighter were called in by
This month, IN-OSHA issued citations to a “service contractor” for $99,250 after one of their service technicians entered a roll-off trash compactor to perform equipment repair, replacing a hydraulic pump and a directional valve on the Marathon Trash Compactor. The plant was NOT cited, and the contractor company involved in the repairs received ten citations, one
OSHA has cited an industrial cleaning contractor for 28 serious safety violations following the death of a worker who fell from a ladder inside of a storage tank, apparently after being overcome by methylene chloride vapors at a chemical manufacturing facility. Eighteen of the serious violations involve confined space entry requirements, such as…
OSHA has cited a brewery with one alleged willful and five serious violations for failing to protect workers from exposure to carbon dioxide and other workplace hazards while working in brewery cellars. The October 2012 complaint inspection of the facility has resulted in a proposed penalty totaling $88,000. The alleged willful violation was cited for
Two water and sewage treatment plant operators, one a 49-year-old and the other a 21-year-old, died when they entered a permit-required-confined space and could not exit safely. Three employees and one supervisor were assigned to replace a bracket on a pump inside an underground pump station. The pump station measured nine feet in diameter by
A 49-year-old contract worker died when he entered a chemical storage tank to clean and inspect the tank. The victim was assigned to conduct scheduled inspections and maintenance at a chemical tank farm. Before arriving on-site, the victim received e-mails from the chemical company manager outlining the projects that he was to complete. On his
How often have we heard “entry supervisors” ask the following question… “Do I have to call the fire department before I sign each permit?” How do you answer this question? Does their responsibility change if there is an on-site rescue team vs. off-site rescue services? This is an EXTREMELY CRITICAL path in confined
Working in confined spaces can be very dangerous. A confined space is an area with poor or no airflow. Examples of confined spaces include Tanks, Bins, Covered Pits, Silos. Poor airflow allows the accumulation of dangerous gases in confined spaces. Before a miner enters a confined space, the atmosphere must be checked for adequate oxygen
Since we are sharing NIOSH Investigative Reports tonight, I thought I would share one of the reports that floors me every time I see it! In March 2011, a safety manager for the government agency that inspects “dairy plants” was concerned that the inspectors were not being properly protected from Confined Space hazards, so he
