OSHA Inspection: WESTBEND PROPERTIES, LLC

Issued

Sep 9, 2009

Abate by

Sep 15, 2009

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $210 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment
and a place of employment free from
recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious
physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials while no suitable
facility for quick drenching or
flushing of the eyes was provided within the work area for immediate
emergency use:
Chemical mixing area next to chemical storage shed - Where corrosive
fungicides such as Captan 50, Captan 4L
and OxiDate were present and used in this workplace, no emergency eyewash
was available.
Abatement Notice: One feasible and acceptable method to abate this hazard
is to install an emergency
eyewash in accordance with ANSI Z358.1 as follows:
Eye wash minimum physical requirements are met by use of any of the
following:
Fixed commercially available apparatus designed specifically for eye wash,
or an apparatus of similar
design and equal effectiveness constructed by employer.
A hose of adequate length and flexibility to allow the user to direct flow
of water into eyes. A pressure-reducing, divergent flow or "spent stream"
nozzle and quick opening valve (providing full on/full off
control with one hand operation) located at the nozzle must be attached to
the hose. NOTE: It is
recommended that the nozzle be mounted at a height between 33 and 45
inches (so that both hands can
be free to assist in irrigation of the eyes.)
Further considerations:
Location - All required emergency eye wash facilities must be located
within a distance from the point of
hazardous exposure which can be negotiated in 15 seconds or less, but in
no case more than 75 feet.
Factors which must be considered are physical layout of work area and
decreased vision and mobility
which may result from employee exposures of varying severity.
Water Supply/Flow Rates - All facilities utilized for compliance with this
standard must provide a
copious flow of potable water for at least 15 minutes. No action other
than the opening of a valve may
be required by the user. (Examples of prohibited devices are squeeze
bottle or manually operated
pumps.) Personal eye wash equipment deviating from the criteria set forth
herein (squeeze bottles,
neutralizing solutions, etc.) may not be substituted for the requirements
set forth herein.  However,
such facilities may, at the discretion of the employer, be provided in
addition to the minimum
requirements of the standard.
Verification of Operation - Employer shall ensure the dependability of all
emergency eye wash facilities
through protection from freezing, deterioration, physical damage, and
through appropriate inspection
and maintenance.
Temperature - The temperature of the water used for emergency eye wash
must
be maintained above
freezing and less than 112* F. The water should be maintained at a
comfortable temperature so as not to
discourage its use (60*F. - 95*F)

Issued

Sep 9, 2009

Abate by

Sep 17, 2009

Issued

Sep 9, 2009

Abate by

Sep 17, 2009