OSHA Inspection: BASS AIR CONDITIONING CO INC

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Oct 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment
and a place of employment free
from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were exposed to high environmental temperatures:
a)facility - where the heat stress prevention program did not provide
training to new employees
performing tasks including, but not limited to, installation of heating
and air conditioning units
and ducts/vents and were exposed to a heat index of 92.7 degrees
Fahrenheit and a
temperature of 93.0 degrees Fahrenheit (33humidity).
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct
this hazard is to develop a written
heat stress prevention program to include elements such as the following:
1) Responsibilities of the employer and employees regarding working in
hot, humid environments;
2) Environmental factors and personal health factors that contribute to
heat-related illnesses;
3) Procedures for measuring air temperature and documenting effects of
other environmental factors
(humidity, wind strength, work location) by determining the Wet Bulb Globe
Temperature (WBGT)
Index or heat index using any tool or resource available including OSHAs
heat
safety tool smart
phone app.;
4) Guidelines for implementing a heat acclimatization process;
5) Daily water/fluid requirements and management of the water/fluid
allocation process;
6) Training on the recognition of the signs and symptoms of heat-related
illnesses;
7) Reporting process when employees with heat-related illness symptoms are
observed;
8) Establishment of first-aid procedures;
9) Establishment of emergency response procedures;
10) Training for supervisors and employees on the requirements established
in the heat stress
prevention program.
(Reference: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
Threshold Limit Values &
Biological Exposure Indices, 2004. pp.168 176.68 "Heat Stress and Heat
Strain")