OSHA Inspection: CENTRAL LANDSCAPE AND MAINTENANCE, INC.

Issued

2012-01-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $4000.00 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:
On or about  August 4, 2011, employees of Central Landscape and
Maintenance Inc.,
while working outdoors with full exposure to the sun, mowing lawns and
performing
other landscaping activities, were exposed to the hazard of excessive
ambient heat.  Such
exposures may lead to the development of serious heat related illnesses
such as heat
exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, and heat stroke.  On this day, a
new employee,
while mowing lawns, developed a heat related illness.  The employer did
not have a heat
acclimatization program for new employees.
Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include developing
and
implementing a
formal heat stress management program which incorporates, but is not
limited to the following
elements:
1)Providing adequate amounts of cool, potable water, ice, and electrolyte
replacement in the work area for continuous use and for immediate first
aid to
heat stroke victim(s);
2)Requiring employees to drink 5-7 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes
rather
than relying on thirst as an indicator to hydrate;
3)Implementing a work/rest regimen;
4)Implementing an ongoing training program to inform employees about;
-the hazards of heat-related injuries and illnesses and preventative
measures;
-predisposing factors and relevant signs and symptoms of health effects of
excessive heat-stress;
-the importance of immediate reporting to management personnel of the
development of signs and symptoms of heat-related illness observed or
reported by employees
-first aid procedures for heat-related illness;
-the importance of immediate administration of appropriate, first aid to
workers reporting or displaying symptoms of heat-related illness;and
-the effects of therapeutic drugs and social drugs(including alcohol) that
may increase the risk of heat illness by reducing heat tolerance.
5)Implementing a heat acclimatization program to increase heat tolerance
of new
employees and employees returning from periods of absence of three or more
days;
6)Providing a cooler, shaded area where heat-affected employees may take
their
breaks and recover when symptoms of heat-related illness; and if feasible,
providing a climate-controlled area where heat-affected employees may
recover
when signs and symptoms of heat-related illness are recognized.
7)Providing adequately trained personnel at the work site to treat workers
that
develop signs and symptoms of a serious heat-related illness, specific
procedures
to be followed for heat-related emergency situations and procedures for the
immediate administration of first aid to employees displaying symptoms of
heat-
related illness.
8)Establishing and implementing a screening program to identify health
conditions
aggravated by exposure to heat stress, and utilizing monitoring of core
temperatures to better identify when workers need to be removed from
excessive
heat environments.
THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19

Issued

2012-01-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3000.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

Issued

2012-01-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-01-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Issued

2012-01-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $600.00