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 workers, in that the workers were exposed to the recognized hazard of heat stress while performing masonry work. On or about July 8, 2011, employees of Bailey-Buchanan Masonry, Inc. were exposed to the hazard of excessive ambient heat during the performance of their duties, which included moving bricks and scaffold boards, and maintaining a supply of mortar on mortar boards, while performing masonry laborer activities on a scaffold in temperatures exceeding 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Such exposures could lead to the development of heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke with subsequent death due to hyperthermia. Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include, but are not limited to: Development and implementation of a Heat Stress management Program. Such a program may include, but is not limited to: 1)Providing adequate amounts of cool, potable water and electrolyte replacements (specific recommendations should be made by medical consultation) in the work area and requiring employees to drink 5-7 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes, rather than relying on thirst as an indicator of the need to hydrate, 2)Developing and implementing a work/rest regimen, 3)Training employees about the effects of heat-related illness, how to report and recognize heat-related illness symptoms, and how to prevent heat-related illnesses, 4)Including a heat acclimatization program for new employees or employees returning to work from absences of three or more days, 5)Providing a cool, climate-controlled area where heat-affected employees may take their breaks and/or recover when signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses are recognized, or 6)Providing shaded areas where heat-affected employees may take their breaks and/or recover on worksites that don't have access to climate-controlled areas. 7)Providing specific procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency situations and procedures for first aid to be administered immediately to employees displaying symptoms of heat-related illness. 8)Establishing and implementing a screening program to identify health conditions aggravated by exposure to heat stress, and consider utilizing monitoring core temperatures to better identify when workers need to be removed from the work area. THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19NCE