OSHA Inspection: FARMLAND HYDRO, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Issued

Sep 1, 1987

Abate by

Jun 1, 1988

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $405 Reduced

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 in the sulphur
unloading area were exposed to the hazard of excessive heat stress while
preparing rail tank cars containing sulphur to be unloaded. Typically,
this operation involves two men; one man works on top of the tank car
and one man works on the ground, up to fourteen (14) tank cars are
prepared for unloading.
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index, (WBGT), recorded during surveys
July 13 and July 14, 1987, measured from a low of 30 degrees Celsius
a high of 33.1 degrees Celsius. Such exposures may lead to the
development of serious heat induces illnesses: heat stroke, heat
exhaustion, cramps, and behavioral disorders, as correlated to
guidelines established by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists and The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health.
Among other methods one feasible and acceptable abatement method would
be to implement changes in work practice, specifically, the sulphur
unloading operation could be continued to early morning hours, 7:00
a.m. to 10 a.m., or late afternoon, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., when
temperatures are cooler.
Limiting exposure to excessive heat through a work/rest regimen, as
described in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists booklet
of threshold limit values and biological exposure indices for 1986 -
1987, is another method of heat stress control. This work/rest regimen
should be based on established mean temperature readings in the work
area.
Water supplementation schedule presented in such a way employees are
stimulated to drink small amounst of a cool liquid every 15 to 20
minutes will serve to augment any control measures used.
Other considerations include physical fitness and acclimatization of
employees, as well as the type of clothing worn when working under hot
environmental conditions.
Training of employees in the recognition and treatment of heat related
illness prior to being placed in the work environment is also
recommended.