OSHA Inspection: DORIS JANSSEN ENTERPRISES

Issued

2007-01-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2007-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3430.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8320

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 environmental heat while performing
framing work on a
single family residential construction site. Employees were exposed to a
heat index of
approximately 102 degrees Fahrenheit, as reported on 08/03/2006, by the
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration weather station in Melbourne Florida. Such
exposures may lead to
the development of serious heat induced illness such as heat exhaustion
and/or heat stroke.
a) For employees performing framing and other related construction
activities where the
heat index is approximately 102 degree Fahrenheit, the employer failed to
assess the
heat-load to which they may be exposed and failed to develop and implement
a heat
stress program designed to protect employees from that exposure.
The estimated work-load for these employees puts them in the moderate
workload
category as correlated with the guidelines established by the American
Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH) and the National Institute for
Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Means of feasible abatement include but may not be limited to:
1. Develop and implement a written heat stress program which includes, at
a minimum,
the following items:
a) Establish provisions for a work/rest regimen to reduce the work
exposure time to
excessive environmental heat.
b) A training program informing employees about the effects, signs and
symptoms
and
prevention of heat induced illness and to include specific instructions
and warnings
concerning the effects of heat stress.
c) An acclimation policy for new employees to adjust to the working
conditions.
d) Develop and implement a pre-employment medical questionnaire designed to
determine employees' fitness to work in hot environments.
e) Provide protective covers or personal protective clothing to protect
employees from
the heat.
f) Provide ample supplies of cool drinking water.