OSHA Inspection: HIGH STRUCTURAL ERECTORS LLC

Issued

Sep 3, 2015

Abate by

Dec 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8330

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  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 worked outdoors in direct sunlight, for 8 hours per day, exposing them to excessive heat which could, and in one case did, result in heat related illnesses:      a) Route 84 East Bridge in Matamoras, PA:  On July 20, 2015, an employee, Ironworker, was exposed to excessive heat while performing bridge work operations in direct sunlight outdoors for approximately eight hours on a sunny day with a peak heat index of 91 degrees Fahrenheit.   This employee suffered from a heat related illness, discovered on or about July 21, 2015.        ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED      Among other methods, some feasible methods to correct this violation include but are not limited to:     1. Utilize appropriate tools (e.g., heat stress meter) to evaluate environmental conditions at worksites.  Ensure that managers are provided with effective training to operate these tools and interpret their data.      2. Implement an effective heat illness prevention program pursuant to which adjustments are made to employee work schedules and work duties for all employees when outdoor working conditions become, or are expected to become, potentially hazardous.  Ensure that site managers are effectively trained to implement and enforce this heat illness prevention program.      3. Implement, enforce, and ensure that employees follow a work/rest regimen in accordance with the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 2014 Permissible Heat Exposure Threshold Limit Values (TLVs).  Ensure that site managers are effectively trained to implement and enforce this work/rest regimen.      4. Provide mandatory training for all employees regarding the heat illness prevention program, the health effects associated with heat stress, recognizing symptoms of heat related illnesses, methods of preventing such illnesses, and the importance of employees reporting any symptoms of heat related illnesses to their supervisors.    5. Provide mandatory training for all managers and supervisors regarding how to effectively recognize symptoms of heat related illnesses in others and the procedures to follow when an employee appears to be suffering from symptoms of heat related illness.      6. Provide hot worksites with a cool area (e.g., tent and/or job trailer) for employees to take their breaks.        7. Implement a heat acclimatization program for new employees, for employees returning to work from absences of four or more days, and for employees who are moved from cool and/or shaded jobs to hotter and/or unshaded jobs.       8. Permit only those workers acclimatized to heat to perform the more strenuous tasks. Rotate physically demanding job tasks among acclimatized workers.    9. Continue to ensure that cool drinking water and/or other hydrating beverages are readily available to employees working in hot environments.  Encourage employees to drink 5 to 7 ounces of cool water every 15 to 20 minutes.         10. Ensure that employees working in hot environments carry only the necessary amount of tools in their utility belts that are required to complete job tasks.        11. Ensure that the clothing and necessary personal protective equipment (e.g., high visibility vests) worn by employees are breathable and/or designed to be worn in hot environments.      12. Schedule hot jobs for cooler parts of the work day when feasible.