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ITD unit to resume operations
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Posted on Apr 22 2002
Treatment of PCB-laced soil in Tanapag is expected to resume this month, as both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers said that the latter’s contractor—the Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC)—are working with them to address safety concerns at the site.
This, as the two federal agencies disclosed some details as to how deceased Filipino worker Roberto Alarzar was burned by hot dust at the treatment site.
“ECC is making certain operational and safety changes to meet Corps and EPA requirements. After the two agencies accept these changes, ECC will resume processing PCB-contaminated soil at the work site,” according to a joint press statement by the two agencies.
Treatment operations were temporarily halted even before the fatal incident that happened on February 16, since the indirect thermal desorption machine used in treating the soil was undergoing maintenance.
When the burning incident that injured two other workers occurred, the ECC was not allowed to continue with the operations pending investigation of the case.
“A Corps investigation following the accident determined it was caused by a failure of the electrostatic precipitator hopper unit, which could not have been anticipated,” the press statement read.
“Mr. Alarzar was burned by superheated dust that flowed from the hopper unit when he opened it,” it stated.
In its investigation report, the Army Corps made three recommendations to the ECC to address safety and operational concerns, and these should be met so that the contractor would be allowed to resume soil treatment.
“ECC must develop detailed procedures for the ITD unit to ensure that the electrostatic precipitator hopper units are empty before their access plates are removed and must ensure these procedures are understood and followed by its on-site workers,” the Corps said.
The ECC was also required to revise its safety and health plan, besides ensuring that its workers are given needed emergency training.
