Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

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 heat stress: (a) York Snacks, Plant 2 - A Corn Cooker employee was exposed to excessive heat from the boiling water and steam pipes while the employee was controlling the flow of the corn into the cooker and the water temperature. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 89.03 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.035 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992. The sample taken for 10 minutes in each of the two (2) major work areas and three (3) minutes in the Holding Vat Area occupied by the employee on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 37 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. (b) York Snacks, Plant 2 - A Sheeting employee working at the Little Line was exposed to excessive heat from the oven and fryer while the employee was controlling the flow of the corn into the conveyor belt prior to the oven. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 89.4 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.039 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992. The sample was taken for 9 minutes in the work area occupied by the employee on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 51 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. (c) York Snacks, Plant 2 - A Sheeting employee working at the Big Line was exposed to excessive heat from the ovens and fryers while the employee was controlling the flow of the corn into the conveyor belt prior to the ovens. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 99.09 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.151 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992. The sample was taken for 14 minutes in the two (2) work areas occupied by the employee on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 46 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. (d) York Snacks, Plant 2 - Two (2) Picker employee(s) on the Big Line were exposed to excessive heat from the ovens and fryers while the employees were controlling the flow of the Corn Tortilla Chips coming from the oven before they go into the fryer. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 90.0 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.047 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992. The sample was taken for 2 minutes in the work area occupied by the employee on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 58 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. (e) York Snacks, Plant 2 - A Picker employee on the Little Line was exposed to excessive heat from the oven and fryer while the employee were controlling the flow of the Corn Tortilla Chips coming from the oven before they go into the fryer. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 88.0 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.023 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 19911992. The sample was taken for 3 minutes in the work area occupied by the employee on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 57 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. (f) York Snacks, Plant 2 - Two (2) Fry Line operator(s) were exposed to excessive heat from the ovens and fryers while the employee(s) were controlling the entire flow of the product, as well as, assisting in the general clean up of the work station. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 88.49 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This was 1.029 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992. The sample was taken for 16 minutes in the three (3) work areas occupied by the employees on August 27, 1992. The unsampled period of 44 minutes was assumed to be the same as to employee and employer comments. FEASIBLE ENGINEERING CONTROLS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 1. Enlarge the "Cool Spot". This can be done by enlarging the area covered by the present air conditioning vent. 2. Insall greater insulation on the ovens and fryers covers and hoods. 3. Provide the work stations with individual fluid replacement containers. 4. Institute a "Work-Rest" Regiment to allow employees time to recover from heat stress conditions. Abatement Schedule Step 1 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: (1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; (2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; (3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; (4) Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls. %% All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. 90-day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Step 2 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and /or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.