OSHA Inspection: GENERAL INDUSTRIES ELECTRONICS CO.

Issued

Dec 22, 1986

Abate by

Dec 31, 1986

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8330

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 such as but not limited to Subassembly operators and Final
Assembly operators were subjected to excessive levels of heat stress
during surveys on July 9 to July 11, 1986, and on August 1, 1986, as
correlated to guidelines established by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists and the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health. Such exposures may lead to the
development of a serious heat induced illness (heat stroke) as well
as syncope syndrome, heat exhaution and cramps, skin eruptions, and
behavioral disorders. Between June 10, 1986 and August 11, 1986,
three cases of heat illness were documented on injury/illness records
and five employees were placed on sick leave due to heat related
illness, and numerous complaints had been made to management
concerning rashes, nausea, dizziness, headaches, etc.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to operate existing air conditioning when
temperature and humidity indices approach levels that could be expected
to result in heat related illnesses without the use of air conditioning.
Further abatement might include a heat stress program which would
include:
1) Provisions for a work/rest regimen so that exposure time to high
temperatures is decreased and/or the work rate is decreased, and/or
rest periods are increased in length and frequency.
2) An annual training program informing employees about the effects of
heat stress, symptoms of heat induced illnesses, and prevention of
heat induced illnesses.
3) An acclimatization procedure for new employees and employees
returning to the facility after extended periods away from the
workplace.
4) A screening program to identify health conditions aggravated by
elevated temperatures.
5) A provision to supply cooler rest areas. An optimum temperature is
about 74 degrees F.

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

Hazardous substances 8111

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Nov 24, 1986

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Oct 17, 1986

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Oct 31, 1986

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Jan 23, 1987

Issued

Oct 6, 1986

Abate by

Nov 24, 1986