OSHA Inspection: CARDELL CABINETS INC

Issued

Sep 23, 1998

Abate by

Oct 5, 1998

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 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 excessive levels of heat stress during the performance of
their duties working
on the paint lines and drying area.
(a)  The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index in the mill area on August
26,1998, ranged from 84$F to greater than 88$F during the 2 hour 19 minute
sampling period.
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 in the mill area 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 employees in the mill area
cut wood and move
alot of the cut wood by pushing carts around from one station to another.
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.