Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003A Hazard: EXPLOSION

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: The NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquid Code 2008 Edition, is a Recognized Industry Standard of recommended practices, that provide fundamental safeguards for the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids. a)Employees that worked at CAPECO performing routine task such as: tank operator,waste treatment operator, loading rack operator, among others were exposed or could be exposed to flammable and combustible release, fire and or explosion. At the tank farm area the employer stored gasoline, jet fuel, fuel oil, and diesel in above ground tanks, ranging from 500 to 500,000 barrels. Weed and grass were not controlled in the dike areas and surrounding areas of the tank according to NFPA 30 - 6.9.4. During the inspection walk-around performed on 11-05-09, 12-04-09, 2-3-10, and 2-23-10 it was observed that a significant amounts of grass and weed in close proximity and adjacent to the dikes and surrounding areas had uncontrolled vegetation growth or were actively growing or were burned during the incident. Also the employer provided documents of inspections that stated the vegetacion growth problems and how on occasion it even affected walking of employees in the area. See binder 3 tab 1 Work daily OSHA PRODUCTION 12-23-09 page 88, tab 2 maintenance work order T-822 OSHA PRODUCTION No. 2 11/20/09 page 2265, and 2(b) OSHA PRODUCTION No. 2 11/20/09 S-2, S-4, S-6 monthly inspection checklist for bulk storage tanks) page 358, 360,363, monthly inspection checklist for Pump Station X-3 page 367, SWPP Inspection Form Storm water System page 368 When the weed/grass are not controlled they can become part of the fuel load should a fire start in the area adding to the spread of fire. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is: 1.Follow NFPA 30 - 6.9.4 Ground areas around facilities where liquids are stored, handled, or used shall be kept free of weeds, trash, or other unnecessary combustible materials. El codigo NFPA 30 Liquidos Inflamables y Combustibles edicion 2008 es un reglamento de practicas reconocidas por la industria, que proporcionan las salvaguardas para el manejo, almacenaje y uso de liquidos inflamables y combustibles. a)Empleados que trabajaban en CAPECO, realizando tareas rutinarias tales como: operador de tanque, operador de tratamiento de aguas, operador de area de carga, entre otros fueron o podrian haber estado expuestos a liberacion de productos quimicos inflamables, combustible, fuego y/o explosion. En el area de la granja se almacenaba en tanques sobre el terreno gasolina, "jet-fuel", "fuel oil" y diesel, con capacidades que fluctuaban entre 500 a 500,000 barriles. La Maleza y vegetacion no fueron controladas en las areas de los diques y en las areas adyacentes de acuerdo al NFPA 30 - 6.9.4. Durante los recorridos hechos el 5/nov/09, 4/dic/09, 3/feb/10 y 23/feb/10 se observo una cantidad significativa de vegetacion y maleza bien cerca y en las areas adyacente a los diques y alrededores que tenian crecimiento descontrolado de vegetacion que estaba creciendo activamente o que habia sido quemada durante el incidente. Ademas patrono proveyo documentos de inspecciones que mencionaban el problema de crecimiento de la vegetacion y como en ocasiones afecta hasta el caminar de los empleados por el area. Ver Carpeta 3 pestana 1 "work diary" OSHA PRODUCTION 12-23-0 pagina 88, pestana 2 "Maintenance work order" T-822 OSHA PRODUCTION No.2 11/20/09 page 2265 y pestana 2(b) OSHA PRODUCTION No.2 11-20-09 hojas de Cotejo inspeccion mensual para tanques de almacenamiento a granel S-2 pagina 358 S-4 pagina 360, S-6 pagina 363, hoja mensual bombas X-3 pagina 367. Cuando la vegetacion y maleza no son controladas estas pueden hacerse parte de la carga de combustible en caso de comenzar un fuego en el area, anadiendo a la dispersion del fuego. Entre varios metodos, un metodo de correccion aceptable y factible para corregir este riesgo es: 1.Seguir el NFPA 30 - 6.9.4 El terreno alrededor de las facilidades donde se almacenan, manejan, o utilizan liquidos deben ser mantenidas libre de maleza, basura u otro material combustible innecesario.