OSHA Inspection: LYONS DIECASTING COMPANY

Issued

Oct 19, 1988

Abate by

Nov 18, 1988

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $360

Issued

Oct 19, 1988

Abate by

Nov 18, 1988

Issued

Oct 19, 1988

Abate by

Nov 18, 1988

Hazardous substances 81108111

Issued

Oct 18, 1988

Abate by

Nov 18, 1988

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $540

Hazardous substances 8330

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  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 serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
The hazards of excessive heat stress, and the employer did not institute
and enforce an effective heat stress management program to control
employee exposures.
a) Employees such as but not necessarily limited to the zinc remelt
operator who works in the zinc remelt room on the east side of the
main production building, were exposed to heat stress conditions in
excess of the Adopted Threshold Limit Values (TLV's) for heat stress
of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH). The ACGIH TLV's for heat stress were developed to prevent
elevations of deep body temperatures above 100.4 degress F. Elevation
of body core temperatures above this level can result in the onset of
serious heat induced illnesses such as, but not necessarily limited
to, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and/or death.
Heat stress surveys conducted on October 5, 1988 revealed the following:
Title                 Date    % Work Rest Av   WBGT TLV   Rate
Zinc Remelt Operator 10/5/88  Continous 27.7C   26.7     3.9 Keal
(Moderate work load)        Work    (81.9F)  (80.1F)
One feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard among others,
is to establish and enforce a heat stress control program such as that
recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH). Esential elements of such a program would include, but may not
be limited to, the following:
1) Survey potential heat stress operations:
Establish a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) profile for each hot
job for winter and summer seasons. Re-evaluate whenever there were
changes in production, process, equipment or controls.
2) Identify and implement engineering controls to reduce convective and
radiant heat levels in the work rest areas:
Since the radiant heat load is a major contributor to the heat stress
in this instance, the operation could be re-designed such that
effective shielding be used between the heat source and the worker
during charging, pouring etc.
3) Identify and implement applicable administrative and work practice
controls, including a work/rest regiment to reduce exposure time and
metabolic expenditure of the employee and to allow for adequate water
intake:
In this instance, ensure that employees adhere to a work rest
schedule that has been divised to take into account changing job
orders, weather conditions, etc.  Rotate personnel if necessary.
4) Institute and effective employee acclimitization prgrams:
In this instance, develop a specific schedule for progressive
adjustment periods for unacclimatized new workers and for regular
acclimatized employees who returned from vacation, sick leave, etc.,
5) Provide and enforce the use of appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE) to protect employees form heat stress:
For an additional effective control of the radiant heat load
reflective jackets (or aprons) and head coverlings or auxilliary
personal cooling systems (such as ice vests, water/air cooled
garments, etc.) can be used.
6) Institute appropriate medical screenings and first aid programs
relative to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
7) Institute and effective employee training program relative to hazards
of heat stress and the control programs in effect.
The above methods are general and may or may not be applicable inall
circumstances. The employer, based upon his superior knowledge of the
workplace, is responsible for selecting, implementing and enforcing an
effective heat stress control program which considers the elements
outlined above.

Issued

Oct 18, 1988

Abate by

Nov 18, 1988