OSHA Inspection: PRISMATIC DYEING AND FINISHING

Issued

Nov 22, 2005

Abate by

Dec 28, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 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 heat stress.
(a) Dye House: On or about 08/04/2005, the Jig and Burlington operators
were
exposed to heat stress conditions including but not limited to heat
exhaustion and
heat stroke due to high temperatures while they were doing their tasks.
The
effect of exposure to high temperature include: confusion, nausea, cramps,
irrational behavior, fainting, convulsions, and death.  At the Dye house
the
employees were exposed to a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature between 33.06 o C
and 34.28 o C (Centigrade degrees) which exceeds the screening criteria
for Heat
Stress Exposure, published by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists, 2005 edition of 32.5 o C, for acclimatized
employees doing
light work and wearing moderate clothing.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct this hazard
are: 1 Address heat stress causes which may include: monitoring predicted
weather conditions,
ensure adequate fluid replenishment, provide and require periodic breaks
in a cool area, train
workers and supervisors in the recognition, prevention, and treatment of
heat illnesses and
employee temperature monitoring; and 2. Increase ventilation for both
general air movement and
for radiant heat sources.
ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREDATION