Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: OTHER

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: a)Workplace (anexo Pineiro Building) - All the building air handling units (AHU1, AHU2, AHU3, AHU4 and AHU5) had problem with their mechanic controls (valves, dampers, etc). In general, controls were not functioning. Water piping insulation was deteriorated. Some of the problems detected were the following: 1.AHU1 (basement) - Controls for the opening and closing of the dampers were not functioning. AP 010 (supply fan room) - Supply fan was out of service; the room was used as a storage place; fresh air entrance was closed. 2.First floor (AHU2 and AHU3) - Fresh air controls were not working / fresh air entrances were closed. AHU3 - Coil was dirty. Valves required maintenance; pneumatic controls didn't function propperly. AP 101 (Computers Center) - Room thermostat was located close to a window were outdoor temperature can affect its operation. 3.Second Floor (AHU4) - Pre-filter system was eliminated; fresh air entrances were closed. AP 200A - Room thermostat was located close to a window. 4.Third floor (AHU5) - Fresh air entrances were closed; dampers were not functioning. All the above mentioned conditions make the air conditining system inefficient; temperature fluctuations are very common (temperature varies from very hot to very cold). Hazard: the inability of the air conditioning system to keep temperature control, exposed employees to temperature discomfort. Also, humidityconditions resulting from temperature fluctuations, promotes fungi growth wich cause allergies and other respiratory conditions. a)Lugar de trabajo (Edificio Anexo Pineiro) - Todas las manejadoras de aire acondicionado (AHU1, AHU2, AHU3, AHU4 Y AHU5) del edificio tenian problemas con sus controles mecanicos (valvulas, "dampers", etc). En general, los controles no estaban funcionando. Aislacion de las tuberias de agua estaba deteriorada. Algunos de los problemas detectados fueron los siguientes: 1.AHU1 (sotano) - Controles para abrir y cerrar los "dampers" no estaban funcionando. AP 010 (cuarto del abanico suplidor) - Abanico suplidor estaba fuera de servicio; el cuarto era usado como lugar de almacenaje; la entrada de aire fresco estaba cerrada. 2.Primer piso (AHU2 y AHU3) - Controles de aire fresco no estaban funcionando / entradas de aire fresco estaban cerradas. AHU3 - "Coil" estaba sucio. Valvulas requerian mantenimiento; controles neumaticos no funcionaban correctamente. AP 101 (Centro de Computos) - Termostato de esta area localizado proximo a una ventana donde la temperatura exterior puede afectar su operacion. 3.Segundo Piso (AHU4) - Sistema de pre-filtro fue eliminado; entradas de aire fresco estaban cerradas. AP 200A - Termostato de esta area localizado proximo a una ventana. 4.Tercer Piso (AHU5) - Entradas de aire fresco estaban cerradas; "dampers" no estaban funcionando. Todas las condiciones antes mencionadas hacen ineficiente el sistema de aire acondicionado; las fluctuaciones en temperatura son muy comunes (la temperatura varia de muy caliente a muy fria). Riesgo: la inhabilidad del sistema de aire acondicionado, de mantener el control de la temperatura, expone a los empleados a incomodidad por temperatura. Ademas, condiciones de humedad resultante de las fluctuaciones en temperatura, promueven el crecimiento de hongos lo cual causa alergias y otras condiciones respiratorias."