OSHA Inspection: SUAREZ CONSTRUCTION

Issued

Sep 30, 2009

Abate by

Oct 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100

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 the hazard of heat:
a)On or about August 14, 2009 the employer did not protect employees from
the
recognized hazards of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, while employees
shoveled
residual dirt behind a pier/trench foundation excavation machine with
temperatures
exceeding 93 degrees fahrenheit.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard include:
1) Establishing an acclimation program for new employees.
2) Establishing a mandatory work/rest schedule for employees.
3) Establishing a heat stress monitoring program for employees.
4)Establishing an initial and annual heat stress training program for all
high
risk
employees. The program shall address the following:
a.Sources of heat transfer, i.e. metabolism, radiation, convection
b. Physical responses to heat and first aid measures to take to
Alleviate symptoms.
c. Physical indications that a worker should be removed from the
job/task.
d. Administrative and work Practice controls in use such as diet,
salt intake, acclimation.
e.Medical and social conditions that affect heat tolerance.
f.Description of heat stress program and responsibilities of
enforcement.
g. Providing ice and water-cooled garments for employees.
h. Assigning and utilizing relief workers and/or extra workers to
reduce stress on workers.
i. Establishing a water/electrolyte replenishment program for
employees.
j. Establishing an appropriate medical surveillance program for
employees.
DISCLAIMERS:1)You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested
above.2)The methods explained are general and may not be effective in
all cases.
3)The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.
NOTE: IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM IN
ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19NCE