OSHA Inspection: RUDD & ADAMS MASONRY, INC.

Issued

Sep 9, 1998

Abate by

Oct 19, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

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 during the performance of
their duties working
on the paint lines and drying area.
(a) Employee(s) working labor and masonry work on 09/03/98, exposed to 102
degrees
Fahrenheit.  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.
(b)  The estimated metabolic workload for employees doing labor and
masonry work 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 masonry work involves the
manual laying
of concrete blocks.
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)  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.