OSHA Inspection: NADALS ICE INC

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

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 Ammonia:
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 Ammonia:
a)Workplace - Ammonia was used in the facility as part of the refrigeration
system for the production of ice. There were in the facility four (4)
machines
depending on ammonia as a refrigerant. The total quantity of ammonia in
process including the four (4) machines was 600 pounds (approximately 150
pounds per machine); in addition there were stored two (2) tanks of ammonia
with 100 pounds capacity each. The potential exists for releasing of a
hazardous chemical into the workplace in unknown concentrations during any
failure (opening of a valve, etc.) wich affect the ammonia "closed system".
The employer didn't have a alarm system for detection of ammonia releases.
Ammonia releases may cause serious health damages to employees;
concentrations above about 100 ppm are uncomfortable to most people,
exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health. Among
other health hazards, exposure to ammonia can irritate the nose, mouth, and
throat; breathing ammonia can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or
shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the
lungs (pulmonary edema).
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is performing a process hazard analysis to address the
hazards of the process and engineering and other control measures to ensure
worker safety, including a complete evaluation and assessment of process
systems.  Installing of ammonia detectors in areas where a substantial leak
could occur.  Ensure that ammonia detectors are calibrated regularly.
Check the operation of ammonia sensors and alarms regularly.
a)Lugar de trabajo - Se usaba ammonia en la facilidad como parte del
sistema de
refrigeracion para la produccion de hielo.  Habia en la facilidad cuatro
(4)
maquinas que dependian de ammonia como refrigerante. La cantidad total de
ammonia en el proceso incluyendo las cuatro (4) maquinas era 600 libras
(aproximadamente 150 libras por maquina); ademas habia almacenados dos (2)
tanques de ammonia con capacidad de 100 libras cada uno. Existe el
potencial
de liberacion de un quimico peligroso en el lugar de trabajo en
concentraciones
desconocidas durante cualquier falla (apertura de una valvula, etc.) que
afecte
el "sistema cerrado" de ammonia.  El patrono no tenia un sistema de alarma
para la deteccion de escapes de ammonia.  Los escapes de ammonia pueden
causar danos serios a los empleados; concentraciones que excedan alrededor
de100 ppm resultan incomodas para la mayoria de las personas, exposicion a
300
ppm es inmediatamente peligroso a la vida y la salud. Entre otros riesgos
a la
salud, exposicion a ammonia puede irritar la nariz, boca y garganta;
respirar
ammonia puede irritar los pulmones causando tos y/o dificultad
respiratoria.
Exposicion mas alta puede causar acumulacion de fluido en los pulmones
(edema pulmonar).
Entre otros metodos, uno factible y aceptable para corregir este riesgo es
llevar a cabo un analisis de riesgo de proceso para dirigir los riesgos del
proceso y los controles de ingenieria y otras medidas de control para
asegurar
la seguridad del empleado, incluyendo una evaluacion completa de los
sistemas
del proceso.  Instalacion de detectores de ammonia en areas donde un escape
sustancial puede ocurrir.  Asegurar que los detectores de ammonia se
calibran
regularmente.  Verificar regularmente la operacion de los sensores y
alarmas."

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001

Issued

Jul 5, 2001

Abate by

Jul 23, 2001