CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

3/05/01 LOC1 Library of 

Congress -Jefferson, Adams and Madison Buildings 

Improper Storage - Cellulose Nitrate - OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) (general duty clause) - Storage of pyroxylin plastic materials containing cellulose nitrate a highly flam

mable substance, exposes 

employees to a recognized hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm. 

LOC: Cylinders will be mat the new Audio-Visual Cconstruction in Culpepper

completion dates is 2005. 

expedited abatement. 

1Abbreviations Used: AOC - Architect of the Capitol; LOC - Library of Congress; OOC- Office of Comp

Occupational Safety and Health Act; USCP- United States Capitol Police. 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

03/05/01 AOC/LOC Library of 

Congress -Jefferson, Adams and Madison Buildings 

Unprotected Exit Enclosures - 29 CFR 1910.37(b)(1), (2) - Exit enclosures, which separate exit stairwells and exit pathways from other parts of building, do not provide adequate fire resistance because penetrations made for pipes, ducts, and cable have not been adequately protected to prevent the spread of fire or toxic gases. 

AOC: All holes in fire whave been closed using a or approved fire dampers. in exit pathways in the Mcomplete. Repair of peneBuilding exit pathways arthrough the comprehensiv

modeling effort. The site concept modeling were co

Next phase is to determinalternatives and proceed tthat designs will be compPenetrations in the Adams are being addressed throuconstruction effort. The ccomplete and includes re-ductwork directly into the line. A detailed design w

Year 2003, and constructirequested in Fiscal Year 2

A - 2 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

03/05/01 AOC/LOC Library of 

Congress -Jefferson, Adams and Madison Buildings 

Fire Doors Blocked Open - 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(2); 1910.36(d)(20; 1910.37(b)(2) - Fire doors not maintained and operated to avoid undue 

danger to occupants in that they were blocked open. This prevents the doors from stem

ming 

spread of smoke and toxic fumes during period of 

time reasonably necessary for escape in a fire or other emergency. 

AOC: All improperly ope

repaired in October 2001. and inspected quarterly anneeded to ensure they operesponsible for monitoring 

03/05/01 AOC Library of 

Congress -Jefferson, Madison Buildings 

Non-functioning Halon Systems - 29 CFR 

1910.36(d)(2) - Fixed Halon fire extinguishing systems were not in proper operating condition. 

AOC: This item is COMP

extinguishing system was 2001 and the systems are an annual basis. 

03/05/01 AOC Library of 

Congress -Blue Tote and Grey Tote Book Conveyors -Jefferson, Adams, Madison Buildings 

Lack of Fire Barriers - 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(2) -

Unprotected openings and inadequate fire resistance in conveyor systems create undue danger to safety of occupants from smoke or toxic fumes during period of time reasonably necessary 

for escape from buildings. Lack of Energy Isolating (“Lockout/Tagout”) Devices - 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3) - Energy isolating devices needed to isolate machinery or equipment from energy source. 

AOC: Fire Barriers - A cobe performed in Fiscal Ye

scope of work, extent of precom

mended design alter

has been requested in Fiscwill be complete in Fiscal request for funds for cons2006 budget. [Proper enerwere installed in October 

COMPLETE.] Energy Isolating Devices 

A - 3 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

03/05/01 AOC Library of 

Congress -Adams building 

Lack of Fire Barriers - 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(2) -Vertical openings and penetrations between tiers of multitier book stacks create undue danger to safety of occupants from smoke or fumes during 

period of time reasonably necessary for escape from building or structure. Unprotected Exit Stairwells - 29 CFR 

1910.36(b)(2) - Exit stairwells and pathways in Adams not constructed, equipped, and maintained to avoid undue danger to lives and safety of occupants from fire, smoke, fumes, or resulting 

panic during period of time reasonably necessary for escape from building in case of fire or other emergency. 

AOC: Fire Barriers - Hole

patched with firestopping 

panels. This work is appr

and is expected to be 100% Exit Stairwells - All penet

surrounding exit stairwellfirestopping compound or 

Conceptual design to correxit pathways has been coconceptual design includeductwork directly into the line. Detailed design will 2003, and construction fuFY 2005 to correct this pr

A - 4 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

03/05/01 AOC Library of 

Congress -Jefferson Building 

Lack of Fire Barriers - 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(2) -

Vertical openings and penetrations between tiers of book stacks create an undue danger to safety of occupants from smoke or fumes during period of time reasonably necessary for escape from building. Unprotected Exit Stairwells - 29 CFR 

1910.36(b)(2) - Lack of exit stairwells and exit pathways that are effectively protected against fire, smoke or toxic fumes poses undue danger to 

the lives and safety of occupants during period of time necessary for escape in case of fire or other emergency. Malfunctioning Fire Doors - 29 CFR 

1910.36(b)(2); 1910.36(d0(2) - Fire doors were not continuously maintained in proper operating condition. permitting smoke and toxic gases to spread rapidly. time reasonably necessary for escape in event of fire. 

AOC: Fire Barriers - The 

movement between floors performance based fire mentire building. concept modeling were co

Next phase is to determinalternatives and proceed tthat designs will be compExit Stairwells - All penet

surrounding exit stairwella fire stopping compound The ground floor exit paththrough the comprehensiv

fire-modeling effort. final concept modeling we

2002. design alternatives and pranticipate that designs wilDecember 2004. Fire Doors - All improper

were repaired in October checked and inspected qumade as needed to ensure 

They will not close properly, thus 

This could endanger occupants during 

The site i

The 

Next phase is to de

A - 5 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

Failure to Perform Lead Exposure Assessment - 29 CFR 1926.62(d)(1)(i) - The employer did not make an initial determination as to whether employees may be exposed to lead at or above the action level. 29 CFR1926.62(d)(2)(v); 29 CFR 1926.62(d)(2)(iv) - The employer did not provide employees with potential exposure to lead with protective measures required pending determination of the actual level of employee 

exposure. 

AOC: Correction is COMOperating Procedure apprmetal surfaces that are to (WCB) will be assumed to Away” or similar product metal to remove paint. 

W

cleaned, WCB procedure Certification of corrective OOC 1/10/02. 

A - 6 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

No Emergency Action Plan - 29 CFR 1910.38(a) - The Capitol Power Plant lacks an emergency action plan that sets out the steps that should be taken in the event of a fire or other emergency. Inadequate Employee Alarm System -1910.36(b)(7); 1910.38(a)(3)(i) - An employee alarm system which complies with requirements in 29 CFR 1910.165 for such systems was not established. 29 CFR 1910.36(d)(2); 29 CFR 1910.165(d)(1) -Employee alarm systems were not continuously maintained in operating condition. Inoperative Smoke Detectors - 1910.36(d)(2) -Smoke detectors were not maintained in proper 

operating condition. 

AOC: Emergency Action 

Emergency Action Plan (E12/31/02, AOC will instituEmployee Alarm System/

design study for a fire alarBuilding and East Refrigescheduled for FY 2003. Fbe requested in FY 2005. adequacy of the abatemenalarm system. The inoper

in the Administration and 

Buildings will be repaired 9/30/02. Maintenance of t

including smoke detectors required. 

A - 7 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

Improper Storage of Flammable Gases - 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii), (b)(4)(iii) and (b)(4)(i); Section 3.5.3 Compressed Gas Association pamphlet P-1-1965, as adopted by 29 CFR 1910.101(b) - Oxygen cylinders in storage not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible 

materials a minimu

m distance of 20 feet or by a 

fire-resistant partition. Fuel-gas cylinders were less than 20 feet from highly combustible materials. 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(iv); Section 3.1.17, 3.2.1, 3.3.8 Compressed Gas Association pamphlet P-1-

1965, as adopted by 29 CFR 1910.101(b); 29 CFR 1910.110(b)(6) - There were no valve protection caps on stored cylinders designed to accept caps, creating danger of gas leakage. 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii); Section 3.3.8 and 3.7.1 Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, as adopted by 29 CFR 1910.101(b); 29 CFR 1910.110(b)(6) - Cylinders not stored in assigned locations where they will not be knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, which can result in the leakage of flam

mable or hazardous. 

AOC: Correction is COMstorage containers in use; capped. 12/17/01- Certificaction submitted to OOC. 

A - 8 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

Failure to Inspect and Maintain Lightning Protection Systems - OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) 

(general duty clause) - Employees are exposed to hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm because systems to protect Capitol Power Plant from lightning strikes have not been inspected and maintained. 

AOC: Correction is COMupgrade contract completePeriodic maintenance pro

established and complete lightning protection systemoutlined in NFPA Code. 

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

Fire Hazards–Coal Car Heater - OSH Act 

Section 5(a)(1) (general duty clause) of OSH Act -Employees are exposed to hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm because inadequate measures are being taken to reduce risk of fire from operation of the coal car heater. 

AOC: Correction is COMCorrection submitted 4/1/the heater, if any, lighting by safe methods reported of coal will be by truck, nany future use of this devi

A - 9 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

09/05/01 AOC Capitol Power 

Plant 

Unsafe Equipment & Wiring - 29 CFR 

1910.307(b) - Equipment and wiring methods used 

in hazardous locations are not safe or approved for use in such locations. 

Fire Hazard - Coal Dust Accumulation - OSH 

Act Section 5(a)(1) (general duty clause) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act - Employees are exposed to a recognized hazard likely to cause death or serious physical harm because of coal dust accumulations due to the failure to establish regular cleaning frequencies for floors and horizontal surfaces, such as ducts and beams, or to institute other controls to prevent dust accumulations. 

AOC: Unsafe Equipment 

at location given change iconditions (see below) Coal Dust - Correction is New housekeeping practicbunker to eliminate hazardup of dust on motors, railsNew coal dust collection supcoming renovation certsubmitted 12/17/01. OO

continued compliance. 

04/10/02 CONFIDENTIALSECURITYSENSITIVE

USCP Senate 

Building (October 19, 2001) Capitol Police Offsite Delivery Center -(October 29, 2001) 

Inadequate Response to Anthrax Release 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(1) and (2)(xi); 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv); 29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2); (d)(2) - 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2) 

OOC General Counsel is compliance. 

A - 10 
CITATIONS ISSUED - ABATEMENT ACTIONS - 107TH CONGRESS 

ISSUANCE 

DATE 

EMPLOYING 

OFFICE LOCATION 

VIOLATION & DESCRIPTION DATE OF ABATEM

04/10/02 CONFIDENTIALSECURITYSENSITIVE

USCP Emergency 

Response to Anthrax Release in Senator Daschle’s Office (October 15, 2001) 

Inadequate Response to Anthrax Release 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(1) and (q)(2)(v); 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(v) 

OOC General Counsel is compliance. 

06/20/02 

CONFIDENTIALSECURITYSENSITIVE

LOC 

All LOC 

Facilities 

Inadequate Emergency Action Plan 29 CFR 1910.38 (a)(1); 1910.38(a)(5)(ii) 

LOC Police issued new geconcerning emergency evexplosions, smoke, and firCounsel is assessing adeq

06/20/02 LOC Jefferson 

Building 

Failure to Evacuate Building - 29 CFR 

1910.165(b)(1) The employee alarm system was 

not activated to initiate building evacuation as called for in the emergency action plan, or in sufficient time to provide for reaction time for safe escape. 

LOC provided certificate 10, 2002 reporting that LObeen given written notificrequirements, and that futprovided at police roll calfuture compliance. 

A - 11 
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

1) Russell and Hart buildings, U.S. Capitol, USCP Hqtrs., Blue Plains Kennel, AoC/CMD Blue Plains and Botanic Gardens 

Exit stairways, work shops and mechanical spaces (14 locations) 

AoC1 Exit Fire Doors Blocked or Locked or Do Not Close 

Completely or Large Holes or Openings Exist in Fire Barriers Fire doors provide the means to enter an exit stairwell and must close behind the person to keep smoke and heat out of 

the stairway. Holes, unprotected openings in fire barriers or fire doors that do not close defeat the protection the fire barrier is to provide. Delayed opening exit doors must have 

instructions posted. (29 CFR 1910.36 (b)(4), (d)(1), (2)) 

No r

AoCHartKenGardcom

BldgDec

LEGAL NOTE 

In these Appendices, with respect to certain hazards, we have indicated that OSHA responsibility may attach to more t

matter of law, OSHA does place obligations and responsibilities upon employers whose employees are at risk because of an OSHthe conduct of others. Thus, even if, for example, AOC is assigned to assure that fire extinguishers remain available and unobst

employer whose employees occupy the affected space is obliged, at the least, to notify AOC if an obstruction occurs. Certain emus to revise our Appendices so that only a single employer is shown as responsible for each hazard. As noted, the law contempla

liability may be appropriate in some situations, depending upon the specific facts. 

1Abbreviations used: AoC - Architect of the Capitol; AoC/CMD - Construction Management Division of the AoC; CAO - Chi

of the House; HOB - House Office Building; LoC - Library of Congress; SOB - Senate Office Building; SSA - Senate Sergeant at Armsfacilities at Fort Meade, MD; USCP - United States Capitol Police. 

B - 1 
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

2) USCP Hqtrs., USCP Annex bldg., P St. SE Warehouse and Fort Meade 

Offices, exit stairways, warehouses (17 locations) 

AoC; USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Buildings Lack Two Way Escape To Safety or Exit 

Stairway Lacks Handrails or is in Disrepair or Combustible Materials Stored Inside Exit Stairway 

Every building is required to provide two ways out during an emergency, in case one way is blocked by a dangerous or hazardous condition. ust have a handrail and be constructed to provide a safe means down to next level. clear of combustible storage, personnel lockers and other equipment that could themselves cause fire or render the stairwell unsafe for use in an emergency. (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(8); .37(e)) 

No r

AoC

done Meaneceimm2003 levein FY com2003AoC

bldgUSCcom

Every exit stairway m

The inside of exit stairways are to be kept 

B - 2 
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

3) Longworth, Offices, exit AoC, GAO Lack of Exit Signs or Lighted Signs Burned Out or Exit No r

Dirksen, Postal stairways, work Signs Erroneous or Misleading AoC

Square, Madison, shops, Exit signs and exit directional signs must inform Members Mad

GAO buildings, mechanical and employees of the shortest protected escape route. In USC

P St. SE spaces, dark locations lighted exit signs are needed to aid following corre

Warehouse, GAO penthouse, escape pathway. Hqtr

USCP Hqtrs., warehouses, (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(5); .37(q)) War

USCP Annex garages and attic by N

bldg., and storage spaces GAO

AoC/CMD Blue (12 locations) lumiPlains exit 

DesiComend 

B - 3 
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

4) Rayburn, Mechanical AoC; GAO; CAO, Lack of Emergency Lighting or Lack of Inspection and No r

Russell, Jefferson, spaces, attics, LOC (responsibility Maintenance of Lighting and Emergency Backup Lights AoC

GAO buildings, garage, loading shared with AoC) Emergency lighting systems require periodic inspection and Hou

P St. SE docks, and testing to assure they are in serviceable condition. Some Jeffe

Warehouse, Fort warehouses interior parts of buildings had poor lighting and no com

Meade (13 locations) emergency lights where hazardous machinery is operated, to be Warehouses and or locations with serious tripping hazards adjacent to CAO

House West walkways. corre

Annex (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(5), (6),(d)) Mea

LOCofficcorreGAOcomcomend 

lumisign

B - 4 
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

5) U.S. Capitol, Offices, work AoC; CAO, SSA, Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Not Installed, or AoC

Cannon, Rayburn, shops, food and USCP Sprinklers Blocked or Obstructed by Stored Materials Cou

Russell, Dirksen, services, (responsibility shared Fire sprinklers must be 18 inches above surrounding stored Rayb

Supreme Court, warehouses, with AoC or GSA); materials or other types of obstruction. Such obstructions Squa

GAO, Postal work shops and GAO reduce overall effectiveness of fire protection system and build

Square, USCP printing services prevent the system from controlling or extinguishing a fire. and 

Hqtrs. buildings, (32 locations) Some buildings had spaces or rooms not protected by correHouse West sprinklers though the building design called for complete CAO

Annex and protection. is an 

Botanic Gardens (29 CFR 1910.36(d)(2); .159(c)(10)) as w

AOC corremonactivCAO 

remoGAO

be mSSA

B - 5 
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

6) U.S. Capitol, Work shops, AoC; GSA Automatic Fire Protection Systems Not Inspected, AoC

Rayburn, Russell, mechanical Tested or Maintained Properly DirkDirksen, and spaces, food Fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps and other fixed fire correSupreme Court services, protection systems require regular periodic inspections and Supr

buildings warehouses testing to assure they are maintained in serviceable repla

(11 locations) condition. If these fire protection systems are not Hou

maintained properly they may not perform as intended. done (29 CFR 1910.36(d)(2); .37(m); .159(c)(2)) OOC 

7) House, Senate Work shops, AoC; CAO, SSA and Improper Storage of Flammable and Other Hazardous AoC

Supreme Court, mechanical USCP (responsibility Materials Bldg

GAO, USCP spaces, food shared with AoC); Flammable and other compressed gas cylinders not in use and Hqtrs. buildings, services, printing GAO need to be secured to prevent them from being knocked Corr

and House West services and over, potentially damaging a valve causing a leak. Some SSA

Annex, storage areas cylinders when knocked over or dropped have become cabi

(25 locations) unguided missiles because of high pressure. Flammable flam

liquids and gases also need to be stored in locations where mate

they can be protected from impact. Chemicals such as Augmethylene chloride, a human cancer agent must be disposed disp

of properly. inclu(29 CFR 1910.106(d)(5); .1052(a), (d)) meth

are nCAO

cylinon ocomGAO

B - 6 
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

8) U.S. Capitol, Offices, work AoC; CAO, SSA, Fire Extinguishers Obstructed, Blocked, Not Inspected No r

House office, shops, and USCP or Damaged AoC

Russell, Dirksen, mechanical (responsibility shared Fire extinguishers must be positioned for ready access by CouSupreme Court, spaces, food with AoC) trained persons to put out small fires. This equipment must USCPostal Square, services, be inspected monthly and maintained to keep equipment in Plain

USCP Hqtrs. warehouses, serviceable condition and ready for use. St. W

buildings, Vehicle SSA work shops (29 CFR 1910.157 (c)(1), (d)(2), (e)) com

Repair Garage, and printing CAO

Blue Plains Dog services MeaKennel, P St. SE (28 locations) insp

Warehouse, Fort polic

Meade extin

Warehouses and SSA

AoC/CMD BluePlains 

B - 7 
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

9) U.S. Capitol, Offices, work AoC; CAO, SSA, Required Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter AoCHouse, Senate, shops, and USCP (GFCI’s) Not Provided Supr

Supreme Court, mechanical (responsibility shared Power outlets near or above sinks, in bathrooms, or near Bldg

GAO, Postal spaces, food with AoC); GAO wet locations present serious potential for electrical shock. BotaSquare, USCP services, These areas require Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Hqtr

Hqtrs. buildings, personal (GFCI) protection to prevent electrical shock hazards to Hou

Fort Meade services, employees, Members and others. Where roof is leaking be aWarehouses, bathrooms, allowing water on floor, either prevent leaking or install St. W

P St. SE warehouses and GFCI protection. Nov

Warehouse, other wet areas. (National Electrical Code NFPA 70-1996 section 210-8 and been 

and Botanic (488 locations) 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)) 2002 Gardens proc

MeaprocAssufundrepaschecomGAOissueby Dmoninstarequ

B - 8 APPENDIX B
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

10) House Work shops, AoC; CAO, SSA, Outlets and Equipment Not Properly Wired No r

buildings, GAO, mechanical LoC and USCP Improper wiring of outlets or other electrical power GAO

Supreme Court, spaces, food (responsibility shared supplies, such as configuring outlet with reverse polarity from Jefferson, USCP services, and with AoC); GAO which can cause damage to electronic equipment, AoC

Hqtrs. buildings, warehouses overloading electrical circuits, or using incorrect or CouP St. SE (26 locations) damaged wiring, or using exposed unprotected live wires. HqtrWarehouse, Fort All these conditions expose Members and employees to War

Meade potential fire or serious electrical shock hazard. comWarehouses, (29 CFR 1910.304(a)(2); (f)(3))

AoC/CMD BluePlains 

11) U.S. Capitol, Offices, AoC AoC; CAO, SSA, Access Obstructed to Electrical Circuit Breaker Panels AoC

House buildings, work shops, and USCP Access to electrical circuit breaker panels are to be to be 

USCP Annex mechanical (responsibility shared unobstructed to permit quick access to them in an U.S. 

bldg., Supreme spaces, and food with AoC) emergency to shut power off to a given circuit or circuits. CMD 

Court, services Electrical circuit breaker panels are the nearest point to shut AnnAoC/CMD (309 locations) the power off for any circuit quickly if an emergency com

Office Trailer occurs. This could stop an electrical shock hazard, fire or SSA

allow a qualified person to work on a particular circuit. Panel access also necessary to provide means to reset a GFCI breaker if one was tripped. (29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)) 

B - 9 APPENDIX B
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

12) Jefferson Offices LoC No Emergency Action Plan LoCbuilding (2 locations) Each office unit or work unit must have and communicate a com

written emergency action plan to provide guidance and by Fdirection for what employees must do in an emergency. will 

Where an office has no plan, indecision, and lack of training may result in delayed reaction to an emergency and delayed evacuation. The lack of complete accounting for employees may also cause the emergency response teams 

to perform search and rescue when not needed. (29 CFR 1910.38 (a); .120 (q)) 

B - 10 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

13) U.S. Capitol, Fort Meade 

Senate Recording Studio, warehouses (5 locations) 

AoC; CAO, SSA, LoC and USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Fire Alarm System Not Working or Lack of Actuation 

Devices or Alarm Not Monitored At All Times by Police or System Not Being Tested and Maintained 

Building fire alarm is one of the fundamental fire protection systems required to assure employee safety. ain 

exit pathway must have a fire alarm pull station to sound 

the alarm. It is expected that when the smoke detection system detects smoke or fire it will send a signal to a manned station and sound a fire alarm that will be heard throughout the building or be reported to a manned 

stationed. systems require periodic testing to 

assure that they are maintained in serviceable condition and ready for use. (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(7), (d)2; .37(n); .165 (b),(d)) 

AoC

Studby cCentCoddeterequactio2003CAO

respsystehave LOC

officcorrewill 

14) AoC/CMD Bldg. Blue Plains 

Entire Blue Plains CMD Building including Mason’s Shop and back storage area (1 location) 

AoC No Fire Alarm System 

This building has no working fire alarm system. 

is partially built but not working. employees working in this building, well spread out and not within shouting distance of each other. system with visual and audible sounding devices with pull stations at the exit discharge doors is needed. (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(7); .37(n); .38(a)(3); .165) 

AoC

to de

requactio2003corre

Each m

Fire alarm

A system 

There are about 8-10 

A fire alarm

B - 11 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

15) Fort Meade Warehouses 

(13 locations) 

AoC; CAO, SSA, LoC and USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Lack of Exit Signs/Fire Alarm Pull Boxes 

All warehouse buildings must have proper exit signs in the main aisle to indicate the pathway to the nearest emergency 

exit. truck loading/unloading side of the building, as remote from each other as practical. pull stations near 

each exit pathway to sound local alarm within the building are also required. ( 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(5);(b)(7); .38(a)(3); .165) 

AoC

procimm2003 leve2003of MCAO

25 to instaTembeen 26 demedivisproctestilightthat into MarLOC

officcorre

Each warehouse should have two exit stairs on the 

Fire alarm

B - 12 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

16) Fort Meade Warehouses 

(15 locations) 

AoC; CAO, SSA, USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

No Handrails - Exit Stairs 

All warehouse buildings must have two exit ways out of the building. warehouses requires handrails to be installed on each of the exterior stairs. handrails of 30-34" high measured at the step nosing. (29 CFR 1910.36(b)(8); .37(f)(6), (j), (k)) 

AoCneceimm2003 levesche2003com2003CAO

have undehandwill comlater 

Each building except for the three LoC 

Required stair width is 28" wide, with 

B - 13 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

17) USCP Blue Plains 

USCP Blue Plains Storage near Police Dog Area (1 location) 

AoC; USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Fire Hazards - Hazardous Materials Storage Site 

The present storage magazines are of good quality and properly labeled, however, the location needs to be improved. need to be better controlled and regularly cut. magazines themselves should be placed on concrete slabs and connected to solid ground rods driven securely into deep earth. controlled and one grounding rod seemed overly flexible and not properly secured. unsecured ground rods create a potential fire hazard at this site. (29 CFR 1910.109(c)(1)(iii); .307(b)) 

AoC

was by AEngiwere 2002applwill reguAoC imprnow for t

Brush, weeds and vegetation around the site 

The 

At present the weeds and vegetation are not 

The uncontrolled vegetation and 

B - 14 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

18) Fort Meade Warehouses 

(18 locations) 

AoC; CAO, SSA, LoC, USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Missing/Improperly Maintained Portable Fire 

Extinguishers All warehouse buildings must have two or more portable fire extinguishers: at least one along each of the exit pathways out of the building. ust be properly maintained and inspected. system for properly inspecting and maintaining existing fire 

extinguishers. (29 CFR 1910.157 (d)(2), (e), (f)) 

AoC

fire procfundcontoutsthe acertiCAO

two and In adimplprocof thspacLOC

officcorre

Extinguishers m

At present there is no 

B - 15 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

19) U.S. Capitol, Offices, work AoC; CAO, SSA, Missing Covers For Electrical Junction and Switch No r

House, Senate, shops, LoC and USCP Boxes AoC

Supreme Court, mechanical (responsibility shared Electrical junction and switch boxes must be fully enclosed Capi

GAO, Postal spaces, food with AoC); GAO to contain live wires, sparks or other hot material that may offic

Square buildings, services, escape and cause a fire. These areas require missing covers SuprP St. SE warehouses, installed to enclose electrical boxes. Gard

Warehouse, SSA work shops (29 CFR 1910.303(d), (g)(2); .305(b)(2)) corre

AoC/CMD Blue and printing GAO

Plains, Fort servicesMeade (33 locations)Warehouses, andBotanic Gardens.

B - 16 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

20) Longworth Longworth AoC Improper Wiring/ Inadequate Access to Electrical HOB Cafeteria hot Panels 

line food service The Turbo Chef Ovens on each side of the hotline have area wiring problems with power cords and outlets. The outlets 

(3 locations) are upside down, placing unneeded stress on the machine’s 

power cords which are twisted down side up to make the 

connection. In addition one outlet is missing a cover, and another is not connected to a proper receptacle. Also, 

overhead, above the drop ceiling above the hot line on each side, there are 3 electrical panels on each side. Qualified employees have great difficulty in getting access to these 

panels in an emergency. Safe access with sufficient lighting is required; relocation of panels may be necessary. (29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2);(g)(1)(i)-(vi) and National Electrical Code NFPA 70-1996 Section 110-16; 110-34; 110-3(b)) 

21) AoC/CMD CMD Building Building Blue Blue Plains Plains Mason’s Shop 

AoC Inadequate Electrical Power Service 

Proper electrical outlets and lighting are needed for employees and all work stations in Mason shop area and 

and back storage other shops. Inadequate electrical power service for the area shop’s work stations. The bench grinder has temporary 

(1 location) construction lights powered by extension cords. The other 

work stations along the walls in the building have similar electrical service. (29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2); .304; .305) 

AoC

reloccafeboxeproband OOC updaOOC for tAoCcorreAssuavaiplan by F

B - 17 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

22) U.S. Capitol, Work shops, AoC; CAO, SSA, Tools or Equipment Not Properly Grounded No r

House, Senate, mechanical LoC and USCP Electrical appliances, tools and equipment that are required AoC

Supreme Court, spaces, food (responsibility shared to be grounded need ground connection to provide Capi

GAO, Postal services, with AoC); GAO protection against electrical shock hazards. Defective offic

Square buildings, warehouses, power cords or electrical plugs with broken ground prongs Squa

P St. SE SSA work shops or damaged wire connections need to be replaced with Hou

Warehouse, Fort and printing properly wired plug. Outlets that do not have ground SE WMeade services connection in service need to be wired to provide required com

Warehouses, (54 locations) grounding to prevent electrical shock hazards to employees, GAO

AoC/CMD Blue Members and others. comPlains, USCP (29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1); .334(a)(2)) USC

vehicle repair whegarage building Oct. Botanic Gardens,and House WestAnnex. 

B - 18 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

23) U.S. Capitol, House, Senate, Jefferson, Supreme Court, GAO, USCP Hqtrs., Postal Square buildings, P St. SE Warehouse, vehicle 

repair garage, USCP Annex bldg., House West Annex, AoC/CMD Plains, and Botanic Gardens 

Offices, AoC work shops, mechanical spaces, food services, warehouses, SSA work shops and printing services (72 locations) 

AoC; CAO, SSA, LoC and USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) GAO 

Improper Use of Extension Cords 

Power extension cords may not be used in lieu of permanent wiring. porary use of 90 days or less. and other buildings because of electrical current overloads. These areas require anent electrical service provided closer to the users. (29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)) 

No rLOC

cordNovSSA 

comGAO

outleAOC

buildDecAoC

officGardUSCWarexcecontnon WescorreHoube dwill 

Blue 

They are for tem

Such extension cords have caused fires in Federal 

perm

B - 19 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

24) Postal Square SSA work shop SSA (responsibility Employee Not Properly Fit Tested For Using Respirator SSA 

(1 location) shared with AoC) Each employee required to wear a tight fitting respirator in eval

performing some of their job duties is required to have a fit need

test run annually. Each employee is to demonstrate they it is know how to put it on properly and to do a seal check at propthat time. and 

(29 CFR 1910.134(f)) com

B - 20 APPENDIX B
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

25) U.S. Capitol, Laboratories, AoC; SSA and USCP Lack of Required Eye Wash Facilities and Poor No r

Ford, Russell, work shops, (responsibility shared Placement of Battery Recharging Facilities AoC

Dirksen, Supreme mechanical with AoC) ; GAO Locations where acid battery recharging is done require the Dirk

Court, GAO, spaces, loading area to be marked off, signs posted and kept clear of Supr

USCP Hqtrs. docks, combustibles. Emergency eye wash facilities must be Wesbuildings, Vehicle warehouses provided where acid and other hazardous chemicals are com

Repair Garage, (19 locations) handled. The eye wash facilities must be inspected P St

Fort Meade periodically, kept in serviceable condition and the fluid by D

Warehouses, changed at least annually. sign House West (29 CFR 1910.178(g); .151(c)) by N

Annex, P St. SE eye wWarehouse, and been 

Botanic Gardens proc

matefor FexpeMar“useresptheir reguSSA

GAO

by N

B - 21 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

26) Fort Meade Warehouses AoC Asbestos Removal Needed AoC

(2 locations) Friable asbestos nailed to wall in T-28 near loading dock June 

door; strips of asbestos cloth used in hatchway to attic in T- prob19 and asbestos floor tile on floor; many broken pieces in been room near old furnace room. These materials must be with removed by trained and skilled workers following the AoC proper procedures for cleanup. (29 CFR 1910.1001(f)) 

27) Dirksen Senate building 

Office of the SSA Printing and Copying Services (1 location) 

AoC; SSA (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Exhaust Ventilation System 

The printing and copying machine area has no mechanical 

exhaust ventilation system for removing the waste heat, fumes, vapors and gases coming from the machines. are plastic laminating machine, several Kodak Lionheart print machines and two Heidelburg machines. Some of these machines are designed to be connected into a mechanical exhaust ventilation system. ber of these machines were not operating during our inspection. ay be advisable to have the AoC’s Industrial Hygienist do a survey during peak use of these machines to help determine 

which ones need to be connected to the exhaust ventilation system. (29 CFR 1910.1000 Tables Z-1 and Z-3) 

AoC

Copto thremoinsta2002copirequ

ventverifis beSept

deteOOC 

There 

A num

It m

B - 22 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

28) Dirksen Printing and AoC; SSA Exhaust Ventilation System AoCSenate building Copying (responsibility shared Machine in the moat area used for glueing operations must com

Services with AoC) be connected to exhaust mechanical ventilation system mac(1 location) before being operated. It was not in operation during our conn

inspection. vent(29 CFR 1910.1000 Tables Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3) 

29) Cannon House building 

Basement Level Laborer’s office Lockers. (1 location) 

AoC No Material Safety Data Sheets 

Hazardous chemicals being stored and used in Room B-39 with no Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or any binder for such documents. employees about the risks associated with, and the precautions needed, for handling hazardous chemicals. (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8)) 

AoC

MSDshee2002 instrtrainsafetoccu

30) P St. SE Warehouse 

Warehouse (1 location) 

Building owner and AoC 

Improper Gas Heater Exhaust Vent 

Elevated gas heaters are required to have their exhaust vent stacks to go vertically and to the outside using the most direct route. itted to go in a downward direction before going to the outside, because carbon monoxide would have a greater chance of being released into occupied space. (29 CFR 1910.110(b)(20)(iv)(b) and 29 USC 641(a)(1)) 

AoC

mad

MSDS sheets are required to inform 

Vent stacks are never perm

B - 23 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

31) U.S. Capitol, Senate Office Bldgs., Rayburn, Ford, Postal Square, Supreme Court buildings, House West Annex, Fort Meade Warehouses, AoC/CMD Blue Plains, and P St. SE Warehouse. 

Work shops, mechanical spaces, and warehouses (35 locations) 

AoC; SSA, CAO (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Lack of Machine Guarding 

Powered machinery requires machine guards on all drive belts and pulleys that a person could contact with hands or fingers. achines that cut, grind or shape workpieces requires guarding to prevent employees and others hands, fingers being caught during the operation of the machine. (29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3); .219(e)(1)) 

AoC

officRaybcorreP StcomFort combeen The table to th

saw repaaddepoinCAO

SSA

Also point of operation areas on fixed m

32) U.S. Capitol, Work shops, AoC; SSA High Pressure Compressed Air Cleaning Guns Not No rRussell, Dirksen, mechanical (responsibility shared Properly Controlled AoCand Postal Square spaces with AoC) Compressed air through the use of air guns are used to Russbuildings, House (10 locations) remove debris from machinery and work areas. Such SquaWest Annex and compressed air cleaning guns must have the pressured AnnAoC/CMD Blue controlled to less than 30 pounds pressure to prevent harm comPlains to employees if contacted by the muzzle of the air gun. 

(29 CFR 1910.242(b)) 

B - 24 APPENDIX B
BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

33) Rayburn Mechanical AoC Improperly Maintained Pressure Vessels or Inspections No r

spaces are Not Complete (1 location) All pressure vessels subject to American Society of 

Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code arerequired to have an information plate or label that is to bemaintained in legible condition. This information plate is

not to be painted or defaced in any manner.(National Board Inspectors Code RA2264; RB 3220;29USC 641(a)(1))

34) P St. SE Warehouse AoC Overloaded Storage Second Floor AoCWarehouse (1 location) Several steel concrete mixers stored on the second floor. on S

Floor had not been evaluated as being structurally sound to support such a heavy load by a structural engineer or building code official. Floor loading is to be controlled to prevent the overloading of any floor and its collapse on to employees. (29 CFR 1910.22(d); .176(b)) 

B - 25 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

35) U.S. Capitol, Mechanical AoC Lack of Handrails and Guardrails on Stairs and AoCRayburn, Cannon, spaces and Elevated Walkways and Ford, Russell, exterior stairs Every stairway of four or more steps is required to have a comDirksen, Postal (15 locations) handrail to help support those using the stairs. Every stair USCSquare buildings, or walkway that has an open side of four feet or more above Kenand the lower level is required to have a guardrail to prevent comUSCP Blue Plains employees, members and others from falling off. Alte

(29 CFR 1910.23(a), (d)(1), (e)(5)) guar

desigOctoguarApri

36) USCP Annex bldg. 

Bldg. Exterior Perimeter and Interior (1 location) 

AoC; USCP (responsibility shared with AoC) 

Rodent Infestation 

Severe rodent infestation found in the perimeter of the 

building foundation, and possible infestation by rats burrowing under the building foundation. exterminator must correct this problem. (29 CFR 1910.141(a)(5)) 

AoC

Exteprob2002contatten

37) Botanic Gardens 

Mechanical spaces in the basement (1 location) 

Botanic Gardens Safety Office 

Permit Entry Confined Space Not Properly Marked 

Every permit entry confined space is required to be marked 

or otherwise designated to let all employees know that it is a hazardous area. arking will indicate to those who 

need to enter the space they must obtain the required permit before they are allowed to enter the confined space. (29 CFR 1910.176(c)(2)) 

AoC

Pest control or 

The m

B - 26 APPENDIX B
107th CONGRESS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS – OFFICE AND OTHER FACILITY 

BUILDING/ 

FACILITY 

LOCATION RESPONSIBLE 

OFFICE 

HAZARD/RECOMMENDATION AB

38) Russell, Hart, Work shops, AoC; SSA Unstable Storage Shelving or Damaged Shelving No rCannon, Postal mechanical (responsibility shared Metal shelving that is up to seven or more feet in height AoCSquare, Supreme spaces, with AoC) must be secured to prevent falling over. All metal storage PostCourt buildings, warehouses shelves that are loaded need to be secured to the wall or CouUSCP Annex (16 locations) some other means to provide stability to prevent tipping or USCbldg., P St. SE falling over. correWarehouse, Fort (29 CFR 1910.176(b)) CannMeade DecWarehouse and AoC/CMD Blue Plains 

B - 27 APPENDIX B
Occupational Safety and Health Standards Covering Hazards Observed 

During Inspection of Legislative Branch Facilities 

The following is a brief description of the major safety and health standards referenced in this 

Report. The standards are published in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”) and 

are summarized below. The CFR should be consulted for a complete explanation of the specific 

standards listed. 

Statutory Requirement 

29 U.S.C. 641(a)(1) General Duty Clause 

– The OSH Act requires that every employer provide its employees with a 

safe and hazard-free workplace. The workplace must be “free from 

recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious 

physical harm” to the employees. 

OSH Standard

(29 CFR Section) Brief description/subject

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FIRE AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

1910.36 Safe Means of Egress from Fire and Other Emergencies 

– Every building, new or old, shall have sufficient exits to permit the 

prompt escape of occupants in case of fire or other emergency. 

– Emergency exits must be clearly visible and the routes to the exits 

conspicuously marked. 

– There must be at least two exits, remote from each other, located in such 

a way to minimize the possibility that both will be blocked by fire or other 

emergency. 

1910.37 Exit Routes and Signs 

– Exits and the way of approach to, and travel from, exits shall be 

maintained so that they are unobstructed and are accessible at all times. 

– Exit doors serving more than 50 people, or in high-hazard areas, must 

swing in the direction of exit travel. 

– Exit doors and fire barriers must be maintained and in serviceable 

condition at all times. 

APPENDIX C
– Exits must be readily visible with suitably illuminated exit signs. Exit 

signs shall be distinctive in color and provide contrast with the wall color 

and surroundings. 

– Any door or stairway that is not an exit, but is likely to be mistaken for 

an exit, must be identified by a sign reading “Not an Exit” or similar 

designation. 

– Exit stairwells that continue beyond the floor of discharge must be 

interrupted at that floor by a door or partition. 

– Exits must be designed so that occupants are not required to travel 

towards high hazard areas in order to exit. 

– All alarms and automatic sprinkler systems must be continuously 

maintained and tested. See also 1910.159 (automatic sprinkler systems) 

and 1910.165 (employee alarm systems). 

1910.38 Employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans 

– Each employer must prepare a written emergency action plan to ensure 

employee safety in the event of fire and other emergencies. 

– The emergency action plan must include the following topics: escape 

procedures and routes; procedures for those employees who must remain 

behind temporarily to shut down critical equipment before they evacuate; 

procedures for accounting for all evacuated employees following an 

emergency evacuation; rescue and medical duties; means of reporting 

emergencies; and identification of persons to be contacted for information 

or clarification. 

1910.120 Emergency response procedures - Chem/bio hazardous substances 

– Employers are required to have emergency response procedures where 

hazardous substances are located in the workplace. 

– Employers must develop an Emergency Response Plan for all employees 

who will respond to a hazardous substance emergency. The Plan must be 

made available to the employees, and must include, at minimum, the 

following items: pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside 

parties; personnel roles, lines of authority and communication; emergency 

recognition and prevention; safe distances and places of refuge; site 

security and control; evacuation routes and procedures; decontamination 

procedures; emergency medical treatment and first aid; emergency 

alerting and response procedures; personal protective and emergency 

equipment; and critique of actual response incidents and follow up. 

C - 2 APPENDIX C
1910.157 Portable Fire Extinguishers 

– When the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for 

employee use in the workplace (e.g., the employer expects certain 

employees to fight small fires rather than evacuate the building), the 

employer must also provide training to employees on proper use of fire 

extinguishers and the hazards involved with incipient-stage fire fighting. 

– Portable fire extinguishers must be regularly maintained and inspected. 

They must also be properly located. 

1910.159 Automatic Sprinkler Systems 

– The minimum vertical clearance between sprinkler and the hazard being 

protected is eighteen inches. 

1910.164 Fire Detection System 

– Smoke detectors must be maintained and installed according to the 

manufacturer’s recommendations. 

1910.165 Employee alarm systems 

– Alarms must be capable of being perceived above ambient noise or light 

levels in the affected portions of the workplace. 

– Tactile alarms may be used to alert those employees who otherwise 

could not recognize the audible or visual alarm. 

– Alarms must be properly maintained and regularly tested. 

FIRE HAZARDS 

1910.106 Flammable and combustible liquids 

– Inside storage rooms and outside storage areas must meet specified 

requirements to reduce hazards. 

– Flammable liquids must be kept in covered containers or tanks when not 

actually in use. 

– The quantity of flammable or combustible liquid that may be located in 

an inside storage room or storage cabinet must not exceed specified 

quantities. 

– Storage must be in approved, specially designed containers. 

– Storage tanks must have emergency venting and proper fire resistance. 

1910.109 Hazardous Materials 

– Surrounding areas must be kept clear of weeds and other brush. 

– Electrical wiring and equipment must meet the hazardous location 

standards of the National Electrical Code. 

C - 3 APPENDIX C
1910.147 Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) 

– Whenever service or maintenance is performed on machines in which 

the unexpected re-energization might harm the employees, the work must 

be done with the machine stopped and isolated from all sources of energy. 

Employees involved in such energy control program must be trained, and 

the energy-isolating device must be locked out or tagged out. 

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS 

1910.303 Electrical - General requirements 

– Electrical equipment shall be free from recognized hazards. 

– Sufficient access and working space must be provided to permit ready 

and safe operation and maintenance of all electric equipment including 

electrical panel boxes. 

1910.304 Wiring design and protection 

– For a grounded system, a grounding electrode conductor must be used to 

connect both the equipment grounding conductor and the grounded circuit 

conductor to the grounding electrode. 

1910.305 Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use 

– Flexible cords and cables must be protected from accidental damage. 

Unless specifically permitted, flexible cords and cables may not be used as 

a substitute for fixed wiring of a structure, where attached to building 

surfaces, where concealed or where run through holes in walls, ceilings or 

floors, or where run through doorways, windows or similar openings. 

Flexible cords must be connected to devices and fittings so that strain 

relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to 

joints or terminal screws. 

– Unused openings in cabinets, boxes and fittings must be effectively 

closed. 

– Electrical wall outlets, junction boxes and panel boxes must have 

approved covers. 

1910.333 Selection and use of work practices 

– Safety-related work practices must be used to prevent electric shock or 

other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, 

when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits that are or may 

be energized. 

– There must be a written lockout and/or tagout procedure. 

1910.334 Visual Inspection of Electrical Equipment 

C - 4 APPENDIX C
– Electric plugs missing ground prongs must be removed from use, 

repaired or replaced. 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EXPOSURE 

1910.95 Occupational noise exposure 

– Employees must be given protection against the effects of occupational 

noise exposure when the sound exceeds specified levels. 

1910.132 Personal protective equipment 

– The employer must provide and maintain the proper type of personal 

protective equipment (“PPE”) where there is a hazard from processes or 

environments that may cause injury or illness to the employee. 

– The employer must assess the workplace to determine if hazards are 

present, or likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE. 

– The employer must train each employee who is required to use PPE. 

Employees must be trained to know at least the following: when PPE is 

necessary; what PPE is necessary; how to properly don, doff, adjust and 

wear PPE; the limitations of the PPE; and the proper care, maintenance, 

useful life, and disposal of PPE. 

– See also 1910.133 (Eye and Face Protection), 1910.134 (Respiratory 

Protection), 1910.135 (Head Protection), and 1910.137 (Electrical 

Protective Equipment). 

1910.134 Respiratory Protection 

– Each employee required to wear a tight-fitting respirator must receive 

annual training and annual FIT testing. 

1910.151 Eyewash/Drench Shower 

– When employees are potentially exposed to harmful and corrosive 

materials, the employer must provide facilities for quick drenching or 

flushing of the eyes or body. 

1910.1000 Air contaminants 

– Employers must keep employee exposure to specified contaminants 

within acceptable levels. Where feasible, employers shall achieve 

compliance through administrative or engineering controls. Where 

administrative or engineering controls are not feasible, employers shall 

achieve compliance by the use of PPE (such as respirators) or other 

technical protective measures. 

1910.1001 Asbestos 

C - 5 APPENDIX C
– Employers must demarcate those work areas in which airborne 

concentrations of asbestos exceed established limits, and must limit 

employee access to these areas. 

– Employers must provide information and training to employees who are 

exposed to airborne asbestos at levels exceeding the established limits. 

– Employers must establish a written compliance program and provide 

respirators, protective clothing and shower facilities for those employees 

who work in the demarcated area. 

– See also 1926.1101 (asbestos standards for construction industry 

employees). 

1910.1030 Blood Borne Pathogens 

– Employers with employees who have reasonably anticipated skin, eye, 

mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or potentially 

infectious materials must have a written exposure control plan to minimize 

exposure to blood borne pathogens. 

– The employer must provide appropriate antiseptic hand cleaner if hand 

washing facilities are not readily accessible. 

– The exposure control plan must reflect changes in technology. 

1910.1200 Hazard communication 

– Employers must develop, implement and maintain a written hazard 

communication program giving information about the relevant chemical 

hazards. 

– Employers must have a material safety data sheet (“MSDS”) for each 

hazardous chemical they use and must ensure that these are readily 

accessible to employees during their work shift. 

– See also 1910.1052 (Methylene Chloride). 

1926.62 Lead 

– Employees engaged in construction work must be protected from levels 

of lead exposure that exceed specified limits. 

– In instances where there is potential lead exposure, the employer must 

monitor the area, and must provide employees with PPE and medical 

monitoring. 

– See also 1910.1025 (lead standards for occupations other than 

construction or agriculture). 

C - 6 APPENDIX C
EQUIPMENT 

1910.178 Powered Industrial Trucks – Battery Charging and Recharging 

– Batteries must be charged only in designated areas and precautions must 

be taken at the time of charging or recharging. Signs must be posted and 

the area kept clear of other combustibles. 

1910.212 Machinery and Machine Guarding – General requirements 

– Where the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than 7 feet above the 

floor or working level, the blades must be guarded. The guard must have 

openings no larger than 1⁄2 inch. 

– All hazards such as points of operation must be protected to prevent 

injury. 

1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements 

– All woodworking machinery–such as table saws, swing saws, radial 

saws, band saws, joiners, tenoning machines, boring and mortising 

machines, shapers, planers, lathes, sanders, veneer cutters, and other 

miscellaneous woodworking machinery–must be enclosed or guarded 

(except that part of the blade doing the actual cutting) to protect the 

operator and other employees from hazards inherent to the operation. 

1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus – Belt drives 

– Belt drives must have appropriate guards to prevent injury from contact 

with moving machinery. 

1910.242 Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general 

– The employer is responsible for the safe condition of all tools and 

equipment used by employees. 

– Compressed air used for cleaning purposes must not exceed 30 pounds 

per square inch when the nozzle end is obstructed or dead-ended, and then 

only with effective chip guarding and PPE. 

1910.253 Compressed Gas Cylinders 

– Cylinders must be properly stored and valve covers must be used 

where applicable. 

– See also 1910.101 (general requirements for compressed gases). 

OTHER SAFETY HAZARDS 

C - 7 APPENDIX C
1910.22 Walking–Working Surfaces -- General Requirements 

– All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms 

must be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition. 

– Covers and/or guardrails must be provided to protect personnel from the 

hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc. 

– Floor loading standards must be followed as defined by the building 

owner or structural engineer. 

1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and holes 

– Every stairway and ladderway floor opening must be guarded by 

standard railings with standard toeboards on all exposed sides except at 

the entrance. 

– Every floor opening or hole into which a person can accidently walk or 

fall must be appropriately guarded. 

1910.24 Fixed industrial stairs 

– Every flight of stairs having four or more risers must be provided with a 

standard railing on all open sides. Handrails must be provided on at least 

one side of closed stairways, preferably on the right side descending. 

1910.141 Sanitation 

– All places of employment must be kept clean, with appropriate 

housekeeping, waste disposal, and control of vermin. 

1910.146 Permit-required Confined Spaces 

– The employer must post warning signs about certain confined spaces 

and must develop a written safety plan for employees who are required to 

work in permit-required confined spaces. 

1910.176 Handling Materials – general 

– Storage of material must not create a hazard. 

– All stored materials stacked in tiers must be stacked, blocked, 

interlocked, and limited in height so that they are secure against sliding or 

collapse. 

– Storage areas must be kept free from accumulation of materials that 

constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harborage. 

C - 8 APPENDIX C
Occupational Safety and Health Inspections

Conducted under Section 215(e) of the Congressional Accountability Act

107th CONGRESS 

BUILDING/FACILITY SIGNIFICANT AREAS DATE 

House Office Bldgs.:Cannon, Rayburn, 

Ford, 

Non-Office work areas 

(elevator control rooms, 

shops, mechanical and 

electrical rooms, attics, etc.) 

April 24, 25, 

May 1, 14 

15 

Ft. Meade warehouses All Areas May 3 

Senate Office Bldgs.: Dirksen, Hart, 

Russell, 

Center and Senate Service Department) 

Non-Office work areas 

(elevator control rooms, 

shops, mechanical and 

electrical rooms, attics, etc.) 

May 7, 8, 9, 21 

and June 5, 

August 8 

Library of Congress: Madison, Jefferson, 

Adams 

Offices and administrative 

space only. 

May 14, 15, 16 

and July 16 

GAO Building All Areas May 22 

Capitol Building and Grounds Non-Office work areas 

(elevator control rooms, 

shops, mechanical and 

electrical rooms, attics etc.) 

May 28 and 29 

Senate Office Bldgs.: Russell, Dirksen, Offices and administrative 

space only. 

May 29,30 and 

31 

Supreme Court Building Mechanical rooms 

other 

AOC 

May 31 

Capitol Police Headquarters Building; K-9 

Training facility; Off-site delivery 

(AOC/USCP), Vehicle Maintenance and 

Miscellaneous Facilities: AOC 

Construction Management Shop; P Street 

Warehouse 

All Areas June 4, 5 July 

10 and 17 

Senate Office Bldgs.: Offices and administrative 

space only. 

June 11 and 

12 

Longworth including West Annex, and 

Postal Square (Senate Computer 

shops, and 

areas operated by the 

Hart 

D - 1 APPENDIX D
BUILDING/FACILITY SIGNIFICANT AREAS DATE 

Capitol Building Offices and administrative 

space only 

June 13 

Botanic Garden Conservatory and 

Administrative Building 

All Areas July 9 

House Office Bldgs: 

Rayburn, Ford 

Offices and administrative 

space only. 

July 9, 10, 11, 

16,17 and 18 

Cannon, Longworth, 

D - 2 APPENDIX D
Personnel and Methods 

Michael Lemov, Deputy General Counsel of the Office of Compliance, was the primary 

author of the report and had overall responsibility for its preparation. Cheryl Polydor, Attorney, 

shared principal report writing and preparation responsibilities with him. In addition, Mr. 

Lemov and Ms. Polydor worked on a number of the major investigations discussed in the report, 

including investigations relating to emergency preparedness and the safety of irradiated mail. 

Kate Tapley, Attorney, also assisted in the writing and preparation of the report. Patricia 

Reardon-King, Administrative Assistant and Paralegal, assisted in the report’s production. 

The inspections of shops and non-office work areas were conducted by Thomas Seymour 

and Stephen Mallinger. 

Mr. Seymour, who was retained as a consultant to the General Counsel, is a registered 

fire protection engineer. He has served as Deputy Director and Acting Director of OSHA’s 

Safety Standard Directorate and has more than 37 years of experience in the fire safety and 

safety and health fields. Currently, he is an associate professor at the University of Maryland 

where he teaches fire safety-related courses. 

Mr. Mallinger is on detail from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 

where he has over 22 years of experience. While with OSHA, Mr. Mallinger served as the head 

of the Office of Health Compliance and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Technical Support. 

In these positions, he had responsibility for developing national policies and procedures for field 

offices in areas such as chemical testing and sampling, detection of the Legionella bacteria, and 

assessing asbestos exposure. Mr. Mallinger is an Industrial Hygienist, certified by the American 

Board of Industrial Hygiene, and a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and 

the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. 

In addition to Mr. Mallinger’s services, OSHA, through an interagency agreement, has 

provided the equipment and laboratory services needed to sample for harmful substances. 

Samples have been analyzed at OSHA’s laboratory in Salt Lake City. In addition, OSHA 

personnel have provided advice on a variety of technical issues. 

The inspections of office work areas were conducted by Terry Lane. Mr. Lane, who is 

E - 1 APPENDIX E 
retained as a consultant to the General Counsel, is a former Area Director for the Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration for the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. 

Lane has over 25 years’ experience in the safety and health field and is a professional member of 

the American Society of Safety Engineers. 

The inspections were conducted in a manner similar to “walkaround” inspection 

conducted by OSHA. As with OSHA inspections, management representatives designated by 

the employing offices accompanied the inspectors as they walked through the facility. 

Representatives of affected employees were also invited to participate and did so for most of the 

inspections. 

Once the inspectors arrived at a particular office or place of employment, they walked 

through work areas, inspecting for hazards. The inspectors discussed any violations of OSHA 

standards they observed with the representative of the employing office and offered technical 

advice on how to eliminate the hazard. Photographs were taken of some of the conditions 

observed. As with OSHA inspections, the General Counsel’s goal in these inspections was to 

help employing offices and employees reduce on-the-job hazards. 

Throughout this inspection process, this Office received excellent cooperation from 

almost all employing offices. Architect of the Capitol personnel were particularly helpful in 

helping us to complete the inspections in a timely manner, and in promptly abating many of the 

hazards identified during the inspections. 

We also wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to our colleagues at OSHA for 

their prompt and helpful advice and technical support on a variety of issues. The photographs 

reproduced at pp. 3, 11 and 17 were provided as a courtesy by Roll Call Photos, for which we are 

grateful. 

E - 2 APPENDIX E 
Office of the General Counsel

Office of Compliance

Room LA 200, John Adams Building

110 Second Street, S.E.

Washington, D.C. 20540-1999

Telephone: (202) 724-9250

TTY: (202) 426-1665

All Office of Compliance Material is 

Available in Alternative Formats,

Upon Request