OSHA Inspection: DIMARE RUSKIN, INC. DBA MILLCREEK FARM

Issued

Feb 19, 1999

Abate by

Apr 15, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $750 Reduced

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 heat stress disorders,
such as but not limited to, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, while
performing duties such as harvesting or field clean-up during
environmental temperature extremes.
Feasible and useful methods of correction include, but are not
limited to, the development and implementation of a heat stress
program which should include the following:
A.  Engineering controls - Where feasible, increase mechanization
to reduce human involvement, provide reliable shading such as
large umbrellas, tent or tarps.
B.  Administrative controls - Provide new employees with training
on the hazards of environmental heat; train all employees yearly
on the signs and symptoms of heat stress related problems, pre-
disposing personal or behavioral factors and first-aid procedures
for heat stroke and other heat stress related illnesses; apply an
acclimatization program for new employees; determine any causal
factors that may effect the employee's heat illness
susceptibility; encourage drinking water throughout the day at a
rate of about one cup every 15-20 minutes; implement work/rest
regimens similar to those recommended by the American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; where feasible, conduct
worker monitoring (eg. pulse rate, oral temperature or water
loss); utilize a buddy-system where employees periodically check
on one another while in the field especially for new,
unacclimatized, returning, ill or recuperating employees; assign
extra workers; and end work before the hottest hours of the day,
1-3 pm.
C.  Personal protective clothing -  Where feasible, provide
cooling vest or wetted clothing when humidity is low.
ABATEMENT VERIFICATION REQUIRED