Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119805489 - Save Mart Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Fresno District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, the lead janitor at Save Mart, was using a chemical called Blue Flash containing hydrofluoric acid to clean shelf trim. The chemical was applied to an abrasive pad to scrub the shelf trim, and a wet towel was used to remove the residue. Employee #1 was not wearing hand protection. He said that he was aware of the hazard of hydrofluoric acid on the skin and eyes; however, he was not aware that the spray bottle contained the Blue Flash. He explained that the Blue Flash was not in the original container, but had been transferred to the spray bottle, and the bottle was not labeled. Employee #1 said that he himself had transferred the Blue Flash to the secondary container some days (not specified) before. Employee #1 suffered chemical burns to his abdomen. No citation for failure to label an injurious substance was issued because Employee #1 is not management. The employer provided documentation that demonstrated that Employee #1 was provided haz-com training, instructions on secondary labeling, and proper protective equipment to be use when handling chemicals.

Keywords: ABDOMEN, PPE, HYDROFLUORIC ACID, WORK RULES, CLEANING, CHEMICAL BURN, INATTENTION