I am not sure what transpired with this inspection, but the power plant was also cited for these same violations, but all their citations were DELETED and the penalty reduced to $0.00. The citations below were to the contractor who was actually doing the work inside the space. I am not sure, but I would find it hard to imagine that any contractor would have the skills or ability to “reclassify” a PRCS at any workplace. But it appears the host employer somehow got out of all these citations and the contractor did not; at least that is what it looks like from the citations.
Safety Order 01 Item 001
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,000
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(7)(iv): When hazards arose within a permit space that had been declassified to a non-permit space under 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(7), each employee in the space did not exit the space. The employer did not then reevaluate the space and determine whether it must be reclassified as a permit space, in accordance with other applicable provisions of this section:
Level 1 Pulverizer Mill 2A – On 3/9/15, personnel did not exit the pulverizer and implement a reevaluation of the space when accumulated amounts of coal dust were identified during maintenance operations that involved a cutting torch.
Safety Order 01 Item 002
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,000
29 CFR 1910.146(g)(3): The employer did not provide training that established employee proficiency in the duties required by 29 CPR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces, and did not introduce new or revised procedures, as necessary, for compliance:
Level 1 Pulverizer Mill 2A – On 319115 and time prior to, personnel who entered the reclassified permit required confined space were not adequately trained to recognize the hazard presented by accumulated coal dust on equipment in sufficient quantities to create a potential flammable atmosphere if released during maintenance operations.
Safety Order 01 Item 003a
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,000
29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iv): Cutting or welding was permitted in areas before the areas were inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations:
Level 1 Pulverizer Mill 2A – On 3/9/15 and time prior to, personnel performing maintenance duties did not ensure that the pulverizer was adequately inspected for hazards such as, but not limited to, coal dust, prior to entry for the performance of torch cutting operations.
Safety Order 01 Item 003b
Type of Violation: Serious; Grouped 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(xiv)(D): The employer did not ensure that the supervisor secured authorization for cutting or welding operations from the designated management representative:
Level 1 Pulverizer Mill 2A – On 3/9/15, maintenance operations in the pulverizer that required the use of a cutting torch were conducted without obtaining the required hot work permit completed in full.
Safety Order 01 Item 004
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,000 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(C): Cutting or welding was permitted in the presence of explosive atmospheres (mixture of flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts with air), or explosive atmospheres that could develop inside uucleaned or improperly prepared tanks or equipment which had previously contained such materials, or that could develop in areas with an accumulation of combustible dusts:
Level 1 Pulverizer Mill 2A – On 3/9/15 and time prior to, maintenance personnel entered the pulverizer, a reclassified permit required confined space, to conduct cutting torch operations without ensuring that the space had been adequately cleaned to eliminate the potential of a combustible dust (coal) hazard in the atmosphere.
CLICK HERE to download the citations and CLICK HERE to download the host employers citations
