OSHA Inspection: NORTH AMERICAN PRECAST COMPANY

Issued

Sep 14, 1998

Abate by

Oct 30, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,925 · Current $1,925

Hazardous substances 8320

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 excessive levels of heat stress while working on  forming crews
and the  clean-up
crew.  Such exposure(s) may lead to the development of serious heat
induced illness(es), such
as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat rash and
transient heat
fatigue.
(a) for employees performing  heavy work while on the clean-up crew on
July 20th and
August 12, 1998, at 6949 Lowbid Lane, San Antonio, Texas.  The Wet Bulb
Globe Temperature
(WBGT) index in the production area ranged from 82$F to greater than 90$F
during the 45
minute and 5.5 hour sampling periods, respectively.  The estimated
metabolic workload for these
employees put them in the  heavy workload category as correlated with the
guidelines
established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) and the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).  The
clean-up crew was
responsible for sweeping and raking the excess concrete and scrap metals
from between the
different beds and then shoveling the material into the bucket of a
back-hoe.
(b) for employees performing  moderate work while on the forming crews on
July 20th
and August 12, 1998, at 6949 Lowbid Lane, San Antonio, Texas.  The Wet
Bulb Globe
Temperature (WBGT) index in the production area ranged from 82$F to
greater than 90$F during
the 45 minute and 5.5 hour sampling periods, respectively.  The estimated
metabolic workload
for these employees put them in the  moderate workload category as
correlated with the
guidelines established by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH). The forming
crews were responsible for laying out rebar and wire mesh,  securing it
and then casting the
product.  Casting involves tasks such as: ensuring even distribution of
the concrete by guiding
the chute, raking and/or shoveling the concrete, operating the vibration
unit and/or operating the
mechanical floating devices.
Means of feasible abatement include, but may not be limited to:
1.)  Establishment of provisions for a work/rest regimen so that exposure
time to
high temperatures is decreased and/or the work rate is decreased.
2.)  Adjusting the work periods such that the more vigorous tasks (such as
casting
the concrete and sweeping and shoveling during clean-up) are NOT performed
during the peak
temperatures of the day.
3.)  Development of a formal heat stress program which incorporates: (a) a
training program informing employees about the effects of heat stress,
symptoms of heat-induced
illnesses, and prevention of heat-induced illnesses; (b) use of heat
stress instruments to monitor
the work environment; (c) an acclimation program for new employees and
employees returning
from periods of absence of three or more days; (d) a screening program to
identify health
conditions aggravated by elevated temperatures; (e) provisions for
providing cool drinking water
and/or electrolytes; and, (f) provisions to provide rest areas with cooler
temperatures.

Issued

Sep 14, 1998

Abate by

Sep 24, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,925 · Current $1,925

Hazardous substances 8320