[Southsider2k12]

http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...5a814883923.txt

Sanitary District cited on 11 violations

Matt Field/The News-Dispatch The Michigan City Sanitary District was cited for not requiring employees to wear goggles and face shields when handling these cylinders of chlorine and sulfur dioxide. The district uses the chemicals to treat waste water.
By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, February 26, 2010 4:17 AM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Sanitary District was cited for not having a plan in place in the event chlorine or sulfur dioxide gas leaked and for 10 other serious violations after a confidential complaint brought state inspectors to district facilities twice in January.

A letter from the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration addressed to Sanitary District General Manager Al Walus was obtained by The News-Dispatch.

Walus said the district will fully comply with IOSHA regulations and will avoid having to pay the $12,600 fines the violations carry by correcting the issues that led to the violations by March 11, or by a later date with IOSHA’s permission.

Regarding not having a plan in place in case of a gas leak, Walus said his employees know what to do in that situation.

“We have our staff trained and we’ll take the past practice and put it in writing,” he said.

He said safety features limit the amount of chlorine gas that could be released in a leak.

State inspectors came to check the reported violations, which also included a report of a non-working eye-flush sink, Walus said. When IOSHA inspectors showed up they discovered further violations, he said.

He said 10 of the 11 serious violations have to do with the chlorine sanitation system.

That system is used to treat waste water before it is discharged into Trail Creak. The chlorine system is not used in winter, when few people fish or use the local waterway.

The other violations, which include four violations labeled non-serious, range from not requiring employees to always wear safety goggles when handling chemical storage tanks to not marking all exits properly.

At an organization-wide meeting shortly before the IOSHA inspections, Walus said employees were reminded of the district policy requiring them to tell their supervisors of any safety issues. Failure to do so can lead to suspension, Walus said, but IOSHA does not release the names of people who file complaints.

Since Walus took the helm of the district, it has been recognized by its worker’s compensation insurer four times for its safety. Walus said there were no inspections by IOSHA between 2000 and the summer of 2009. Walus said the district did not have to pay fines stemming from two previous IOSHA inspections over the past year.

Walus said the district wants employees to tell their supervisors about safety issues before reporting them to the state.

Serious violations:

• Water seepage that made floor in filter building slippery.

• Incomplete process safety information about technology.

• Incomplete process safety information about equipment.

• Incomplete initial process hazard evaluation on system containing chlorine and sulfur dioxide.

• The district’s lack of written operating procedures for safe operation of chlorine and sulfur dioxide sanitation process.

• The district’s lack of training in the operation of the chlorine and sulfur dioxide sanitation process.

• The district’s lack of written procedures to maintain process equipment.

• The district’s lack of written procedures to manage changes in chlorine and sulfur dioxide sanitation.

• The district’s lack of an emergency action plan for chlorine and or sulfur dioxide leaks.

• The district’s lack of a requirement to wear goggles and face shields when handling chlorine and sulfur dioxide cylinders, two violations.

[edgeywood]

http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...5a814883923.txt

Kind of amazing that these safety practices are not documented. Isn't that Management 101?

Once again, we certainly pay dollar for these "managers", just another example of the corruption tax here in LaPorte County.

[MCRogers1974]

It is certainly amazing that such procedures were not completely documented. As an ISO Quality Assurance Auditor, I know that each and every step, process and procedure MUST be documented in order to verify a safe work environment as well as a quality product (treatment of waste water).

My sense is many of the so called “managers” are, for the most part, basically uneducated, untrained and unqualified for a leadership role. Many obtained their titles by simply languishing in their current positions long enough to the point where someone merely appointed them to a leadership role. Or, perhaps, they are entwined in the political machine (a relative of a politician) and were rewarded with a leadership role.

A sad state of affairs when we have well educated and highly motivated local individuals who must leave the area in order to find meaningful employment.

Merely my opinion.

[southyards]

It is certainly amazing that such procedures were not completely documented. As an ISO Quality Assurance Auditor, I know that each and every step, process and procedure MUST be documented in order to verify a safe work environment as well as a quality product (treatment of waste water).

My sense is many of the so called “managers” are, for the most part, basically uneducated, untrained and unqualified for a leadership role. Many obtained their titles by simply languishing in their current positions long enough to the point where someone merely appointed them to a leadership role. Or, perhaps, they are entwined in the political machine (a relative of a politician) and were rewarded with a leadership role.

A sad state of affairs when we have well educated and highly motivated local individuals who must leave the area in order to find meaningful employment.

Merely my opinion.

Should anyone want to review the rules and guidelines for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators, they can be found at http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title13/ar18/ch11.html One interesting note is that, if a wastewater plant doesn’t have it’s own certified operator, they can hire one to come in on a part time basis. That way they can use his certification to document any required testing and reporting. Also, When a vacancy in a position of operator occurs due to death, resignation, extended illness, or a similar cause, the vacancy may be filled for a period not exceeding one (1) year by an operator with a provisional certification.

[edgeywood]

It is certainly amazing that such procedures were not completely documented. As an ISO Quality Assurance Auditor, I know that each and every step, process and procedure MUST be documented in order to verify a safe work environment as well as a quality product (treatment of waste water).

My sense is many of the so called “managers” are, for the most part, basically uneducated, untrained and unqualified for a leadership role. Many obtained their titles by simply languishing in their current positions long enough to the point where someone merely appointed them to a leadership role. Or, perhaps, they are entwined in the political machine (a relative of a politician) and were rewarded with a leadership role.

A sad state of affairs when we have well educated and highly motivated local individuals who must leave the area in order to find meaningful employment.

Merely my opinion.

My opinion also....

[Ang]

I got the impression that the person in charge doesn't like being snitched on and if he finds out who did it, that person will be joining the ranks of the unemployed.