OSHA Inspection: HOUSTON HOT TOP ROOFING

Issued

Oct 7, 1998

Abate by

Oct 27, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 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 heat stress hazards:
a) at the Health South Medical Center in Beaumont, Texas, laborers were
subjected to excessive
levels of heat stress while performing heavy work on June 17, 1998, 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).  Such
exposure may lead to the development of a serious heat induced illness,
such as heat stroke, as
well as hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and
transient heat fatigue.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to establish provisions for a work/rest regiment so that exposure time to
high temperatures is
decreased and/or the work rate is decreased.  Further abatement might
include a heat stress
program which would include:
1.  An annual training program informing employees about the effects of
heat stress, symptoms
of heat-induced illnesses, and prevention of heat-induced illnesses.
2.  Temperature measurement instruments to monitor the work environment.
3.  An acclimation program for new employees, and returning employees from
absent periods
of three or more days.
4. A screening program to identify health conditions aggravated by
elevated temperatures.
5. A provision to provide cool drinking water, with individual cups.
6. A provision to provide cooler rest areas. An optimum temperature is
about 74 degrees F.