OSHA Inspection: U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Issued

Nov 13, 2023

Abate by

Dec 29, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073015231591L130L131

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(i) as required by 1960.8(b): Potable water was not provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises, and personal service rooms:  U.S. General Services Administration located at 985 Michigan Avenue in Detroit, Michigan:  On or about May 30, 2023, in the federal office building, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) did not ensure that the building water system was maintained in a manner to prevent contamination. Water was found to contain impurities such as, but not limited to Legionella bacteria, iron, lead, and copper, exceeding the limits allowable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Drinking Water Regulations listed at 40 CFR 141. GSA employees and employees of other tenant federal agencies working in the building were exposed to health hazards associated with heavy metals and bacteria when utilizing the potable water throughout the building for purposes of drinking, cooking, washing of cooking and eating utensils, washing of the person, and use in personal service rooms.   Abatement note:  Feasible means of abatement may include, but are not limited to, the following:  1. Develop and implement a water management program in accordance with the CDC guidance document, "Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings", which can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/wmp/toolkit/.  2. Implement and use water control measure technologies for Legionella control in plumbing systems with the latest guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA guidance can be found at  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/technologies-legionella-control-premise-plumbing-systems.  3. Address water testing, water stagnation issues and water contamination control deficiencies for contaminants such as lead, copper and Legionella bacteria as identified in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) memorandums A201018-8 and A230072-1.  As concluded in OIG memorandum A230072-1, GSA's Public Buildings Service is to take immediate action in water systems to address contamination in GSA owned and leased buildings.