OSHA Inspection: WESTERCHIL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Issued

2011-01-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-01-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1470.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which are free from
the recognized
hazards of being exposed to excessive heat which are causing or likely to
cause death or serious
physical harm to employees:
This violation occurred on or about July 16, 2010, at the new construction
building
(Bluebell Ice Cream Transfer Station) where laborers performing the task
of picking up
trash and construction debris were exposed to excessive heat hazard.
ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method
to correct this hazard is to establish a Heat Stress Management Program
which incorporates
guidelines from the ACGIH's Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure
Indices and/or
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
document,  "Working in Hot
Environments." Such a program may include, but is not limited to: 1.
acclimatizing employees
beginning work in hot environment or those returning from absent periods
of three or more
days, 2. developing a work/rest regiment, 3. providing cool water and
encouraging employees
to drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes-rather than relying
on thirst, 4. providing
training for employees regarding the health effects associated with heat
stress, symptoms of heat
induced illnesses and the methods of preventing such illnesses and 6.
establish
a screening
program to identify health conditions aggravated by exposure to heat
stress.
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 method of
abatement.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the date of
this citation, the
employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with
the standard,
including the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are not
being exposed to highly
hazardous chemicals.