OSHA Inspection: LANDMARK COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTORS LLC

Issued

Dec 5, 2002

Abate by

Dec 24, 2002

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees were exposed to the following condition(s):
a)  On July 8, 2002, at the construction site of the Reserve of Bossier
City apartments,
laborers were subjected to excessive levels of heat stress while
performing moderate to
heavy work as described by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH).  Exposure to heat stress may result in serious heat
induced illnesses
which include: transient heat fatigue, heat rash, fainting, heat cramps,
heat exhaustion
and heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most serious of these illnesses and
can result in death.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this
hazard is to establish a Heat Stress Management Program which incorporates
guidelines
from the ACGIH's Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices
and/or the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) document,
"Working in
Hot Environments."  Such a program might include, but not be limited to:
1.
acclimating employees beginning work in a hot environment or those
returning from
absent periods of three or more days, 2.  developing a work/rest regiment,
3.  providing
cool water and encouraging employees to drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluid every
15 to 20
minutes -- rather than relying on thirst, 4. providing for a cool rest
area, 5. providing
training for employees regarding the health effects associated with heat
stress, symptoms
of heat induced illnesses and the methods of preventing such illnesses and
6. establishing
a screening program to identify health conditions aggravated by exposure
to elevated
levels of temperature.