OSHA Inspection: AFFORDABLE AIR & HEAT, INC.

Issued

Dec 17, 2008

Abate by

Jan 14, 2009

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

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 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 heat-related
illnesses:
On or about 7/2/2008, employees were installing a condenser unit at a
residential home during
hot weather with heat indices of 83-90 degrees F.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to follow established guidelines for the prevention of heat related
injuries, such as those
published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
National AG Safety
Database (NASD), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Examples of these
feasible and
acceptable methods include, but are not limited to: 1) Permitting workers
to drink water at
liberty. 2) Establishing provisions for a work/rest regimen, so that
exposure time to high
temperatures and/or the work rate is decreased. 3) Developing a heat
stress program which
incorporates the following at a minimum: a) A training program informing
employees about the
effects of heat stress, and how to recognize heat-related symptoms and
prevent heat-induced
illnesses. b) A screening program to identify health conditions aggravated
by elevated
environmental temperatures. c)  An acclimation program for new employees
or employees
returning to work from absences of three or more days. d) Specific
procedures to be followed
for heat-related emergency situations. e) Provisions that first-aid be
administered immediately
to employees displaying symptoms of heat-related illness.
NOTE:  DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION OF ABATEMENT IS REQUIRED
FOR THIS VIOLATION.