OSHA Inspection: TANK BUILDERS, INC.

Issued

Dec 28, 2009

Abate by

Jan 11, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer
does not furnish employment and a place of employment which is free from
recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious
physical
harm in that employees are not protected against heat stress hazards.
This condition was observed on or about August 12, 2009, where employees
erecting water tanks were not protected against heat stress while
conducting
welding inside confined spaces, exposing employees to heat injuries.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement
includes:
a.Establishing provisions for a work/rest regimen so that exposure time to
high temperatures is decreased, and/or rest periods are increased in length
and frequency.
b.Providing adequate amounts of cool potable drinking water in the work
areas
for employees and encouraging all workers to frequently drink.
c.Initiating a heat acclimation program.
d.Providing a cool area for heat affected employees to rest and cool down
when symptoms of heat illness are recognized in or reported by other
employees.
e.Having trained personnel available at the worksite to treat workers that
develop signs of serious heat-related illness.
f.Maintaining ice or iced water in adequate amounts for immediate first aid
to heat illness victim(s).
g.Initiating a continuing training program to inform workers of the
hazards of
heat-related illness, the predisposing factors and relevant signs of heat
injury
and illness, the potential health effects of excessive heat stress and
heat-
related illness first-aid procedures, the importance of immediate reporting
to on-site personnel of the development of signs or symptoms od
heat-related
illness observed in or reported by employees, the importance of immediate
administration of appropriate first aid to workers reporting or displaying
symptoms of heat-related illness, the effect of therapeutic and social
drugs
(including alcohol) that may increase the risk of heart illness or injury
by
reducing heat tolerance.
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the
abatement
date of this citation, the employer must submit documentation showing that
it is
in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is
taking to
develop and implement a heat stress program, train employees, maintain an
areato cool employees, ensure adequate hydration of employees, ensure
drinking water
and first aid supplies to properly treat employees who suffer heat stress
illness are
immediately available.

Issued

Dec 28, 2009

Abate by

Jan 11, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500