OSHA Inspection: UPR INSTITUTO DE NEUROBIOLOGIA

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Jan 14, 2002

General-duty citation text

Section 6(a) of the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Act:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to:
Seccion 6(a) de la Ley de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de Puerto Rico:
El patrono no
proveyo empleo y un sitio de empleo libre de riesgos reconocidos que esten
causando o que
puedan causar muerte o dano fisico a los empleados, por cuanto empleados
estaban expuestos
a:
Office 204, and  Laboratories 205 and 207 - employees were exposed to the
hazard of
acquiring fungi related illnesses, where the presence of fungi was
detected in the air as
well as the presence of obvious growth of these on areas of the air
conditioning system.
The employees were performing investigations laboratories.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard can be accomplished following these steps:
1)Eliminate or control all known and potential sources of microbial
contaminants
by prompt cleanup and repair of all areas where contamination and water
collection has ocurred including floors, air conditioner cooling coils,
drain pans,
fan coil units, and filters.
a)Remove and discard porous materials that are contaminated (e.g.: damp
insulation
in ventilation system and moldy ceiling tiles).
b)Clean and desinfect non-porous surfaces where microbial growth had
ocurred with
detergents, chlorine-generating slimicides, or other biocides and insuring
that
these cleaners have been removed before air handling units are turned on.
c)Maintain indoor air relative humidity below 60(50where cold surfaces
are
in contact with room air).
2)Minimize exposure by limiting occupancy of contaminated airspace,
limiting use
of offending sources to specific areas or times, or evacuating
contaminated areas
until they can be ventilated adequately.
a)Isolate areas of renovation, painting, carpet laying, pesticide
application, etc.,
from ocuppied areas that are not under construction.
b)If, possible, perform this work during evenings and weekends.  If
ventilation is
turned off during weekends or other periods, ensure that system is on so
that
contaminant concentrations are sufficiently diluted prior to occupancy.
c)Supply adequate ventilation during and after completion of work to
assist in
diluting the contaminant levels.
d)Personnel affected with hypersensitivity should be thoroughly evaluated
and the
problem identified and corrected before returning them to the workplace.
If, after
the remedial action, the illness persist in the workplace, the affected
personnel
should be considered for permanent reassigment to another area.
Oficina 204, y Laboratorios 205 y 207 - empleados fueron expuestos al
riesgo de
contraer enfermedades relacionadas con hongo, donde se detecto la
presencia de hongo
en el aire al igual que la presencia de crecimiento obvio de estos en
areas del sistema del
acondicionador de aire.  Los empleados estaban realizando tareas de
investigaciones de
laboratorios.
Entre otros metodos, un metodo de correccion factible y aceptable para
corregir este
riesgo puede conseguirse siguiendo estos pasos:
1)Eliminar o controlar todas las fuentes potenciales de contaminantes
microbiales
con la pronta limpieza y reparacion de todas las areas donde la
contaminacion y
acumulacion de agua han ocurrido incluyendo pisos, techos, condensadores
del
sistema acondicionador de aire, reservas de desagGe, unidades de
condensadores
de abanicos, y filtros.
a)Remover y descartar materiales porosos que esten contaminados (ej.:
aislacion
humeda en el sistema de ventilacion y lozas de plafon con hongo).
b)Limpiar y desinfectar superficies no porosas donde ha ocurrido
crecimiento
microbial con detergentes, limocidas generadores de cloro, u otros
biocidas y
asegurar que estos limpiadores han sido removidos antes de encender las
unidades
de manejo de aire.
c)Mantener una humedad relativa del aire interior bajo 60(50donde
superficies
frias esten en contacto con el aire del cuarto).
2)Minimizar la exposicion limitando la ocupacion del espacio de aire
contaminado,
limitando el uso de las fuentes ofensivas a horas o areas especificas, o
desalojar
las areas contaminadas hasta que sean ventiladas adecuadamente.
a)Aislar areas de renovacion, pintura, instalacion de alfombras,
aplicacion de
pesticidas, etc., de areas ocupadas que no esten bajo construccion.
b)Si posible, realizar esta labor durante las tardes y fines de semana.
Si la
ventilacion es apagada durante los fines de semana u otros periodos,
asegurarse
que el sistema se encienda para que las concentraciones de contaminantes
esten
lo suficientemente diluidas previo a la ocupacion.
c)Proveer ventilacion adecuada durante y despues de completar el trabajo
para
asistir en la dilucion de los niveles de contaminantes.
d)Personal afectado por hipersensibilidad debe ser completamente evaluado,
y el
problema identificado y corregido antes de que estos regresen al trabajo.
Si luego
de la accion remediativa la enfermedad persiste en el sitio de trabajo, el
personal
afectado debe ser considerado para reasignacion permanente a otro area.

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Feb 15, 2002

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Feb 15, 2002

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Feb 15, 2002

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Nov 29, 2001

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Nov 29, 2001

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Feb 15, 2002

Issued

Nov 26, 2001

Abate by

Feb 15, 2002