OSHA Inspection: KOLAT CONSTRUCTION

Issued

2010-12-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2010-12-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

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 heat-related hazards without adequate provisions to
protect them:
a)Kolat Construction - Employees were exposed to hot and humid conditions
while working
construction installing concrete forms for a residential swimming pool
deck and one
employee died from hyperthermia on July 6th, 2010.  The employer failed to
train
employees in the control of heat stress and in the recognition,
prevention, and treatment
of heat illnesses.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard
is to follow
established guidelines for the prevention of heat-related disorders, 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
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA).  Examples of these feasible and acceptable
methods include, but
are not limited to:  1)  Developing a heat stress training program to
inform employees about the
effects of heat stress and how to recognize heat-related symptoms and
prevent heat-induced
illnesses.  2)  Training employees to stay hydrated by drinking 5 to 7
ounces of water every 15
to 20 minutes throughout the work day and avoiding drinks with caffeine,
alcohol, and large
amounts of sugar.  3)  Instructing employees to wear light-colored,
loose-fitting, breathable
clothing, such as cotton.  4)  Implementing a screening program to
determine any causal factors
that may effect the employee's heat illness susceptibility.  5)
Establishing a work/rest regimen
so that exposure time to high temperatures and/or the work rate is
decreased.  For example,
work could be scheduled during the cooler part of the day.  6)  Utilizing
an acclimation program
for new employees or employees returning to work from absences of three or
more days.  7)
Specifying procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency
situations.  8)  Making
provisions so that first-aid can be administered immediately to employees
displaying symptoms
of heat-related illness.ated