OSHA Inspection: PAT SCATES AND SONS

Issued

1999-12-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2000-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1250.00 · Current $1250.00

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1)
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 heat stress conditions while
harvesting
vegetables.  Exposure to excessive heat can result in heat-related
illnesses such as heat rash,
heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and/or death.  Before noon on
July 25, 1999,
employees were exposed to heat stress conditions while harvesting
cucumbers. The ambient
temperature was approximately 93 degrees F, relative humidity was
approximately 53and
the heat index was 102 F. This resulted in an employee suffering heat
stroke and
subsequently dying on July 26, 1999.
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct these hazards include:
1) Establishing provisions for a work/rest regimen so that exposure time
to
high temperatures
is decreased and/or the work rate is decreased; permitting workers to
drink water at liberty.
2) Developing a heat stress program which incorporates the following: a) a
training program
informing employees about the effects of heat stress, recognition of
heat-related illness
symptoms, and prevention methods of heat-induced illnesses; b) a screening
program to
identify health conditions aggravated by elevated temperatures; c) an
acclimation program for
new employees or employees returning to work from absences of three or
more days; d)
specific procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency situations;
e) provisions that
first aid be immediately administered to employees displaying symptoms of
heat-related
illness.

Issued

1999-12-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2000-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1250.00 · Current $1250.00