OSHA Inspection: PEPSI COLA PR DISTRIBUTING LLC HNC PEPSI AMERICA

Issued

2009-10-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-11-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2625.00 · Current $1575.00 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:
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:
At Pepsi Americas, Villa Prades warehouse, employees performed assistant
warehouse
works, were been exposed to heat stress (prolonged increase in deep body
temperatures
due exposure to high levels of  heat). The interior Wet Bulb Temperature,
Globe
Temperature (WBGT) results in temperatures of over 28.7 centigrade
degrees. It was
been mechanical ventilation in the area. The employer had tried to fix the
problem
putting plastic pipes with holes to enhance the mechanical distribution of
the mechanical
ventilators, it enhanced the circulation of the air but the temperatures
remained hight.
The employees activity can be classified as moderate since all along the
shift they have
to be standing, walking or lifting beverages packages of about 25 pounds
and putting in
the pallet jack. The following table shows the temperatures obtained in
the pick in area
with the Heat Stress Monitor:
TimeWet BulbDryGlobeWBGT INoC
12:05 pm27.231.932.628.6
1:05 pm27.833.133.129.3
2:05 pm27.433.033.129.1
3:05 pm27.233.433.829.2
4:05 pm27.233.934.329.4
5:05 pm26.033.633.928.4
6:05 pm26.132.332.828.1
7:05 pm26.431.532.228.1
Among other methods, various feasible and acceptable  methods to correct
this hazard
are: To install an air conditioning system (engineering control) to reduce
the WBGT
interior under the indicated by the ACGIH (2001 TLVs y BEIs de 27.5
centigrade
degrees). Also they should repair the damaged extractors so it can capture
the heat and
humidity. Meanwhile they need to implement mitigation controls that allow
sufficient
recovery and limit physiological strain such as: to provide accurate,
verbal and written
instructions, frequent training programs, and other information about heat
stress and
strain; encourage to drink small amount (approximately one cup) of cool
water
about
every 20 minutes; to allow self-limitation  of exposure or resting periods
and encourage
co-worker observation to detect signs and symptoms of heat strain in
others; to monitor
those who take medications that may compromise normal cardiovascular,
blood pressure,
regulation of body temperature, renal and sweat gland functions.
En Pepsi Americas, almacen de Villa Prades, empleados que realizaron
trabajos deayudante de almacen entre otros, fueron expuestos a estres
calorico (aumento prolongado
en la temperatura interior del cuerpo por exposicion a altos niveles de
calor). Las
temperaturas en el interior "Wet Bulb Temperature, Globe Temperature
(WBGT)"
resultaron sobre 28.7 grados centigrados. En el area habia ventilacion
mecanica. El
patrono habia tratado de corregir el problema colocando un sistema de
tubos de plastico
con agujeros para mejorar la distribucion del aire de los ventiladores
mecanicos, lo que
mejoro la circulacion del aire pero la temperatura continua alta. La
actividad
de los
empleados se puede clasificar como moderada ya que estan todo el tiempo
parados,
caminando o levantando envolturas de bebidas de aproximadamente 25 libras y
ubicandolas en el "pallet jack". La siguiente tabla muestra las
temperaturas obtenidas con
el "Heat Stress Monitor" en el area de "pick in":
TimeWet BulbDryGlobeWBGT INoC
12:05 pm27.231.932.628.6
1:05 pm27.833.133.129.3
2:05 pm27.433.033.129.1
3:05 pm27.233.433.829.2
4:05 pm27.233.934.329.4
5:05 pm26.033.633.928.4
6:05 pm26.132.332.828.1
7:05 pm26.431.532.228.1
Entre otros metodos, varios metodos razonables y aceptables para corregir
este riesgo
son: Colocar un sistema de acondicionador del aire (control de ingenieria)
para bajar el
WBGT interior por debajo de lo indicado por la ACGIH (2001 TLVs y BEIs de
27.5
grados centigrados). Tambien se debe reparar los extractores danados para
que capturen
el calor y la humedad. Mientras tanto deben implementar controles
generales que
permitan suficiente recuperacion y limite la tension fisiologica tales
como: proveer
intrucciones escritas y verbales precisas, frecuentes programas de
adiestramiento y
cualquier otra informacion acerca de estres calorico y tension; fomentar
el beber un
volumen pequeno (aproximadamente una taza) de agua fria cada 20 minutos;
permitir la
auto-limitacion de exposicion o periodos de descanzo y fomentar la
observacion de los
companeros de trabajo para detectar senales y sintomas de tension por
calor entre otros;
monitorear a aquellos que toman medicamentos que puedan comprometer las
funciones
cardiovasculares normales, la presion sanguinea, la regulacion de la
temperatura del
cuerpo, las funciones renales y de la glandula del sudor.la

Issued

2009-10-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-10-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1125.00 · Current $675.00 Reduced