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

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 were not protected from the hazard of high heat while performing job duties: Worksite: On or about July 8, 2024, acclimatized and unacclimatized employees were exposed to the hazard of high heat from the sun and high humidity during the performance of roofing related tasks including removing shingles, installing shingles, picking up roofing debris on the ground and transporting it to the onsite dumpster. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) values calculated for this location using data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for July 8, 2024, ranged between 27-32� Celsius (80-90� Fahrenheit) with humidity readings ranging from 50-67%. Heat Index values calculated for the site were between 29 to 34 �C (84 to 94� F). Moderate physical labor was performed in the sun for extended periods. The WBGT readings during the workday reached a high of 32�C (90�F) which is above the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Action Limit for unacclimatized workers and also above the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit for acclimatized workers. These work conditions (based on the environmental heat and metabolic work rates) are likely to lead to the development of serious heat-related illnesses such as, but not limited to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. An unacclimatized employee on their first day on the job reported not feeling well and reported apparent heat related symptoms. The employee was told to stop work and sit in the shade. The worker did not receive medical intervention and was left unattended. The worker could not be found at the end of the workday. The worker was found deceased several hours later in a remote area.