OSHA Inspection: AUTORIDAD DE ACUEDUCTOS Y ALCANTARILLADOS

Issued

Aug 5, 1998

Abate by

Aug 13, 1998

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 eye irritation, temporary or permanent vision impairment, or
blindness:
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 irritacion de los ojos, dano temporero o permanente a la vision y
ceguera:
a)At Barceloneta Wastewater Treatment Plant, Scrubber area near Pump
House, was an
eye wash station withouth a controlled flow of water capable of delivering
to eyes a
minimum of 1.5 litres (.4 gallons) per minute for 15 minutes. The water
valve was
closed an located in an area far from the station and was neccesary a
wrench to open it.
When the valve was opened were leaks in the station. In the area was used
caustic soda
(12sodium hypochlorite) that is corrosive. Employees were exposed to eye
irritation,temporary or permanent vision impairment, or blindness.  Among
others, one
feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard, in
accordance with
ANSI Z358.1-1990 Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment, is:
Correct the water valve to ensure that always be open without leaks an a
controlled flow of water capable of deliver to eyes a minimun of 1.5
litres (.4
gallons) per minute for 15 minutes in case of an emergency.
a)En la planta de tratamiento de aguas usadas en Barceloneta, area del
"scrubber" cerca
de casa de bombas, habia una estacion de lavado de ojos sin flujo de agua
controlado
capaz de llevar a los ojos un minimo de 1.5 litros (.4 galones) por minuto
por 15
minutos. La llave de paso del agua estaba cerrada y localizada en una area
lejana
a la
estacion y era necesaria una llave para abrirla. Cuando la valvula fue
abierta habia
liqueos en la estacion. En el area se utiliza soda caustica (hipoclorito
de sodio al 12 )
lo cual es corrosivo. Empleados fueron expuestos a irritacion de los ojos,
dano temporero
o permanente a la vision y ceguera.  Entre otros, un metodo de correccion
viable y
aceptable para corregir este riesgo, segun el ANSI Z358.1-1990 "Standard
for
Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment", es:
Corregir la llave de paso de agua para asegurarse siempre esta abierta sin
liqueos
y un flujo controlado de agua sea capaz de llegar a los ojos con un minimo
de 1.5
litros (.4 galones) por minuto por 15 minutos en caso de una emergencia.

Issued

Jul 5, 1998

Abate by

Jul 30, 1998

Issued

Jul 5, 1998

Abate by

Jul 30, 1998

Issued

Jul 5, 1998

Abate by

Jul 30, 1998

Issued

Jul 5, 1998

Abate by

Jul 30, 1998