Date: November 15, 2006 Chile AURA wide November 1 to November 7, 2006 Risk Management Inspection

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1 To: Dr. Alistair Walker, Dr. Malcolm Smith, Dr. Steve Heathcote, Dr. Jim Kennedy Enrique Figueroa, Peter McEvoy, Diego Maltes, Oscar Saa, Juan Eduardo Serrano, and Mario Gonzalez Dr. Jeremy Mould and Dr. Doug Simons Chuck Gessner CC: From: Date: November 15, 2006 Subject: Chile AURA wide November 1 to November 7, 2006 Risk Management Inspection Summary A physical risk management inspection that encompassed safety, health, fire protection, environmental and security was conducted from November 1, to November 7, 2006 at AURA s La Serena, Cerro Tololo, and Cerro Pachon facilities in Chile. The focus of this inspection was to review the conditions of the facilities and other safety management aspects but not including the review of specific operating procedures. During the inspection, no at risk behaviors of the people working were observed. There has been much progress with my past recommendations. I commend the efforts of the local safety personnel and most importantly management involvement; by all of our efforts we will reduce the likelihood of accidents. I am appreciative of the generous hospitality of those of you involved; it is my pleasure to service you all! Yours in Safety, Chuck Gessner AURA Insurance Program Administrator Risk Management Specialist Assistant Facilities Manager National Optical Astronomy Observatory 950 N. Cherry Avenue Tucson, Arizona phone: fax:

2 2 La Serena Complex Visitors Dorm (Motel) Notable Mention! The Visitor instructions are easy to understand and bilingual. Laundry. Swimming Pool The water heater safety valve requires a pipe connection to the floor or outside for inspection purposes Replace defective rescue equipment Power House Consider fixed fire suppression system or at a minimum fire detection Clean up spilled oil from replacement of transformer CTIO Building This building does not have a fire detection system, consider at least local fire and smoke detectors Maintenance Utility Rooms under the CTIO Building Consider guarding the belts and drives of the ventilation fans Water System and Tank Not inspected this visit. Water Pump House Not inspected this visit. Gemini Compressed Gas Bottle Storage Clean and orderly, most bottles have been removed Mechanical Shop - Motor Pool Clean and orderly Install plug on the J box by the garage door If servicing split rim tires consider the use of a Tire Cage Warehouse Much improvement noted in housekeeping! Electrical junction box on west wall requires a plug in a knockout Instrument Shop Maintenance Shop Replace compressed air hose fittings with high pressure fittings Repair damaged wiring on the back of the Bridgeport 1 machine Ensure that the eye station fluid has not expired Remove defective cable slings and identify the load ratings of the ones you want to keep Continue with housekeeping efforts in the main shop area 2

3 3 Instrument Shop Overflow Area and Welding Bay Notable Mention! Housekeeping has been improved dramatically in this area and ventilation has been improved in the anodizing area. Replace oxygen acetylene hoses, the use of automotive hose clamps is hazardous Remove defective cable slings and identify the load ratings of the ones you want to keep Carpenter Shop Investigate J-boxes and provide covers and plugs Electric Shop Replace compressed air hose fittings with high pressure fittings Maintenance Shop - Yards and Grounds Much improvement to this area! Computer Room Consider installing two to three rate of rise heat detectors in the computer room in the event of fire Consider fixing the exit sign so it is illuminated The computer room has two halon ceiling mounted fire extinguishers, due to the ventilation requirements of this room; the extinguishers probably would not contain a fire. Consider fixed systems when upgrading or modifying computer rooms, like sprinkler systems Electronics Shop Lab No smoke detectors, consider rate of rise heat detectors Detector Lab Identify liquids in unmarked containers Consider reducing the amount of flammable chemicals stored in wooden shelves and/or provide a flammable liquid storage cabinet Library Electrical Panel by back door needs a cover on empty circuit breaker slot Consider installing exit sign in this area Gemini Building Clean room is missing exit signs Found high voltage panel box and electrical connection boxes open in the maintenance area, review procedures to ensure that these are closed after inspections or repairs Plug penetration holes on the lower half of the MGM transformer in the maintenance area Gemini White House Mount fire extinguishers in office areas and near exit doors Install smoke alarms in each room (portable), ensure inspections after installation Place striping on sliding glass windows throughout building 3

4 4 Post emergency telephone numbers Provide emergency lighting in main areas Place a first aid kit somewhere convenient, not in kitchen Install GFCI circuits for bathrooms and in the kitchen Ensure gas systems are not leaking Lower Security Building No Hazards identified Cerro Tololo General Review cryogenic procedures and equipment in all areas, most areas were noted with cryo gloves but no other protection was observed. Some gloves were defective as well. Security Check Point Clinic Consider purchasing an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for Cerro Tololo and train all first responder of its use Hoist Cable Building Install lenses on exposed lights and wiring Telops Office Area Telops Machine Shop Notable mention! Considerable work has been done to improve the conditions of this area, well done! Install emergency lighting that is patiently waiting to be installed, presently placed on top of the lockers Replace auto clamps on air hose Telops Electrical Shop Notable Mention! Housekeeping improvements are noted, well done! 1.5 Meter Telescope Consider filling cable penetrations with fire stop Remove obstructions from in front of fire extinguishers Consider installing a guard around the dome positioner encoder.9 Meter Telescope Remove Formin gas bottles as they are not used 4

5 5 The wire ropes that hoists the platform are incorrectly connected by Crosby Clips, check the website: Curtis Schmidt Telescope Check all portable power strips to ensure wiring sheathing is protecting internal wires CTIO 40 Yale (1 m) Install exit signs at each exit door on the ground floor 4 Meter Blanco Visitor Center Investigate the wiring for the Disco De Newton seems the electrical wiring is CAT 5 Secure electrical wiring to the floor to prevent tripping of our guests Main Floor Replace defective slings on the man cage. Several are damaged and the others do not have the load ratings. I suggest using nylon slings, as they are easy to inspect and maintain. Replace auto hose clamps on air lines near the aluminizing chamber Hydra Spectograph Room Replace the oxygen sensor and verify that it is continuously monitoring and that it will alarm when there are low oxygen conditions. I suggest comparing results with a hand held monitor, during tasks. Consider monitoring for low oxygen conditions during task in the M floor Dewar filling area Red tag the Lincoln welding machine as I am told it is never used, the welding leads are defective Install a portable eyewash station where the emergency back up batteries are placed at P floor Re coat asbestos insulation by the newly installed air compressors and in the lower floor storage area Remove combustible loading in the P floor storage area PROMPT Telescopes Stair ways are precarious, a possible solution is to remove every other stair GONG 1.3 Meter Telescope UMASS Telescope Replace defective cryogenic gloves Underground Fuel and Oil Storage Have fuel vendors install spill prevention devices to eliminate ground contaminations If the tanks are property of the fuel supplying companies and are checked periodically in order to comply with local legislation; have them clean up the oil spills to our standards 5

6 6 Dump Orderly. It is good to see that there is a recycling program in place Water Treatment Building Verify that electrical systems are on GFCI protection to prevent shock to the operators Generator Building Suggest secondary containment under diesel storage tank Paint Room Not inspected Store flammable liquids in flammable liquid storage, even if it is excess, it is still a hazard Warehouse Garage Replace grinding wheel on the stationary grinder, it is damaged Adjust grinding wheel work platforms to at least 3 mm to the grinding wheel Repair broken glass at office window Investigate electrical j boxes and elbows, missing plugs and covers Install fire extinguishers on Hyster forklift Clean up oil contaminated soil outside of the building HVAC Pipe, Electrical Shop Adjust grinding wheel work platforms to at least 3 mm to the grinding wheel Remove paints and solvents if not in use Welding Shop Carpenter Shop Cerro Tololo Kitchen Accommodations Cerro Tololo Hotel I have to admit; I missed this one until I was checking shower water temperature and leaned my hand on the electrical outlet right next to the shower. Install GFCI circuit in the bathrooms. Cerro Pachon 6

7 7 Gemini Telescope Notable mention! Housekeeping is excellent and so is management involvement in safety, it was a delight to service the Gemini staff. I had to look hard to find these few and simple recommendations. I am also pleased to hear that an engineer has been specially assigned to design corrections to the three engineering projects that were noted in the August Gemini Safety Committee review. I look forward to see the improvements. Panel UL needs covers on circuit breaker openings Panel SBL-3 needs covers on circuit breaker openings Verify separation between grinding wheel guards and platforms as to a minimal distance. (I will send a PowerPoint presentation) Consider pressed fitting on air hoses in the machine shop Panel EM in generator room needs covers on circuit breaker openings Consider marking tripping hazards (piping) located on the floor in the pump room Provide 30 inch clearance in front of the panel marked Optics Chillers J box above door in chiller room requires a cover 1 ton crane requires a safety clip on the hook SOAR Telescope Notable Mention! Even during the repair activities being conducted during my visit, the housekeeping was excellent. I enjoy visiting this telescope as it is well constructed and she is one of our most attractive telescopes. Consider filling holes where conduit pass through walls to reduce the hazard of fire spread with flame stop If there are plans to install a permanent diesel tank for the emergency generator, consider secondary containment (1.5 times the volume of the tank) and a emergency break away hose connection near the tank Consider a redesign for the wooden plank that is used in the pier Panel EPP1 needs covers on circuit breaker openings Consider pressed fitting on air hoses in the maintenance room Cerro Pachon Hotel Cerro Pachon Kitchen 7