OSHA Inspection: POST BUCKLEY SCHUH AND JERNIGAN INC.

Issued

Nov 9, 2010

Abate by

Nov 12, 2010

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act: The employer
did not furnish to each
of his employees a place of employment which was free from recognized
hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to excessive heat:
a)On or about 08/09/10, at times prior thereto, field techs performing the
task of
archeological digs at the White Kitchens and Fall City Project, were
subjected to
the recognized hazards of excessive levels of heat.  Exposure to excessive
levels
of heat may result in serious heat induced illnesses which include:
transient heat
fatigue, heat rash, fainting, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat
stroke.  Heat
stroke is the most serious of these illnesses and can result in death.
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 FOR A COOL REST AREA,
5. 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.