Diagnóstico de Peligros a Través de la GTC 45 para Establecer Medidas de Control en Arcillas Terranova S.A.S. Bogotá D.C.

Abstract

This document presents the hazard diagnosis realized in the company ARCILLAS TERRANOVA S.A.S, Bogotá D.C., through the GTC 45 Version 2012 and sets the risk control measures in the organization. First of all, were identified the processes that the company realizes with its respective activities: productive process (clay extraction, clay storage in drawer feeder, grinding, topping, mixing, extruding, cutting, drying, filling of the oven, baking and defrosting) and administrative process (Work tasks in detail and documents fingering, office works as folders and documents manipulation, cleaning of offices and bathrooms, displacement to meetings), for each of these activities were associated the possible hazards to which the organization workers could be exposed. Likewise, the characterization of the exposure was realizes based on environmental monitoring, which is defines in GATISO for pneumoconiosis taking into account in the first instance the characterization of the circumstances and secondly the characterization of the environment. It should be added that, in the characterization of the circumstances, is established that the raw material for the production of the products is the clay, which in its composition contains Silica (SiO2) that during the manipulation can be converted into Crystalline Free Silica powder, an etiological agent of the generation of Silicosis and other pneumoconiosis. Also during the activities of extraction, grinding and topping, the greatest dispersion of silica powder is presented, due to the nature of these activities and the state of maintenance of the machinery used in these stages. In addition to the above, is defined that the organization has not established any control against exposure to crystalline free silica dust because the management of the company does not know that exposure to this type of dust can cause significant effects in the health of the worker. On the other side, for the characterization of the environment, and sociodemographic survey was carried out on the workers, where it was shown that 58% of them have a cumulative time of exposure to crystalline silica dust greater than 10 years, that 73% are active smokers and that 7% of the latter have suffered or suffer respiratory diseases associated with possible pneumoconiosis. Respect to the place or the working environment, could be seen during the visits to the company's facilities the exposition to crystalline silica dust in almost all areas of work. Another aspect that is taken into account for the characterization of the environment, are the work shifts that are 8 hours a day from Monday to Friday (40 hours a week) and which in the months of December and January can be extended 2 hours more ( 50 hours per week); in the last instance, from the documentary review, it is established that the organization does not deliver the elements of individual protection to workers, this can also be evidenced by the photographic record taken during visits to the organization's facilities. Moreover, the identification of the hazards, the evaluation and valuation of the risks were carried out, and from the qualification are defined as priority risks those valued as Non Acceptable and Acceptable with specific control, among which we can mention the Conditions of Safety 62% (inadequate conditions of order and cleanliness, falls at the same level, projection of materials, among others.), Biomechanics 17% (repetitive movements, manual manipulation of loads and long standing posture) and Chemicals 12% to free crystalline silica powders which may lead to possible pneumoconiosis and, in the worst case, silicosis in exposed workers. Finally, the intervention measures were defined for each of the identified hazards and from the prioritization of the risks, the short-term programs were established (Program of prevention of silicosis by exposure to inorganic crystalline free silica dust, Program Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Locative Maintenance Program, Electro and / or Machine Maintenance Program for Machinery, Equipment and Tools and Program of Selection, Use and Maintenance of Endowments and Individual Protection Elements), medium-term programs ( Emergency Preparedness and Care Program and Order and Cleaning Program), long-term programs (Auditory Conservation Program, Vibration Exposure Prevention Program during excavation, Public Risk Program, Road Safety Program and Storage of Materials) and the plans for the same management in Arcillas Terranova S.A.S, such as induction, training and retraining, inspections, occupational medical evaluation and health promotion and prevention.