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Following an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) into the accident in Paris, Texas that killed a diver, the agency has cited International Diving Services of Arlington for safety violations.
The Dallas Area Office of OSHA started its investigation after the May 13 accident that occurred at a water treatment facility in Paris, Texas. A diver was killed in the accident after his lifeline became entangled in the water pump of a 500,000-gallon in-ground water tank.
Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas was quoted as saying, “The employer failed to ensure appropriate safety procedures were followed for entry into a permit-required confined space and failed to control the hazardous energy that ultimately took this employee's life."
International Diving Services received a citation from OSHA for two alleged willful violations and three alleged serious violations. A willful citation is used for violations that are committed with disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. Serious violations involve conditions that exist which could result in death or serious physical harm.
The willful violations include failing to perform a safety and health assessment for surface and underwater conditions, when planning diving operations and failure to brief dive team members of the hazards or environmental conditions that could affect the safety of the diving operation. The serious violations include entry into a confined space without verification it was safe for entry; the employer’s failure to make sure that the supervisor verified all tests were completed and all procedures and equipment were situated, according to the confined space requirements; and the failure to create and document procedures for the control of potential hazardous energy.
OSHA’s citations included $64,000 in proposed penalties.
International Diving Services has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply, ask for an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Dallas or challenge the citations and penalties with the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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