A concrete company has been cited for ten serious safety violations by OSHA after a plant operator, 39, was fatally engulfed in a fly-ash storage silo on Aug. 6. The worker entered the cone-bottom silo in an attempt to break up clumps of fly ash that had clogged the bottom discharge. After attempts to dislodge clumps with a metal bar and air hose did not work, he climbed into the silo without a harness and lanyard and devoted several hours to breaking up the clumps before being engulfed.
Ten serious violations involve several violations of OSHA’s confined space permit entry requirements, including:
- failing to evaluate a workplace for permit-required confined spaces
- develop a written permit space entry program, including signage
- create measures to prevent unauthorized entry
- provide necessary equipment
- train workers on procedures
- develop a permit issuance system and
- develop procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services.
Other violations include failing to ensure workers use harnesses with retrieval lines attached; address unsafe catwalks; correct an unguarded floor hole in the silo catwalk; and use flexible electrical cords properly.
Proposed fines total $55,800.
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