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

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 hazards: a) at the Health South Medical Center in Beaumont, Texas, laborers were subjected to excessive levels of heat stress while performing heavy work on June 17, 1998, as correlated with the guidelines established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Such exposure may lead to the development of a serious heat induced illness, such as heat stroke, as well as hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and transient heat fatigue. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish provisions for a work/rest regiment so that exposure time to high temperatures is decreased and/or the work rate is decreased. Further abatement might include a heat stress program which would include: 1. An annual training program informing employees about the effects of heat stress, symptoms of heat-induced illnesses, and prevention of heat-induced illnesses. 2. Temperature measurement instruments to monitor the work environment. 3. An acclimation program for new employees, and returning employees from absent periods of three or more days. 4. A screening program to identify health conditions aggravated by elevated temperatures. 5. A provision to provide cool drinking water, with individual cups. 6. A provision to provide cooler rest areas. An optimum temperature is about 74 degrees F.