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: On or about August 4, 2011, employees of Central Landscape and Maintenance Inc., while working outdoors with full exposure to the sun, mowing lawns and performing other landscaping activities, were exposed to the hazard of excessive ambient heat. Such exposures may lead to the development of serious heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, and heat stroke. On this day, a new employee, while mowing lawns, developed a heat related illness. The employer did not have a heat acclimatization program for new employees. Feasible and acceptable methods to abate this hazard include developing and implementing a formal heat stress management program which incorporates, but is not limited to the following elements: 1)Providing adequate amounts of cool, potable water, ice, and electrolyte replacement in the work area for continuous use and for immediate first aid to heat stroke victim(s); 2)Requiring employees to drink 5-7 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes rather than relying on thirst as an indicator to hydrate; 3)Implementing a work/rest regimen; 4)Implementing an ongoing training program to inform employees about; -the hazards of heat-related injuries and illnesses and preventative measures; -predisposing factors and relevant signs and symptoms of health effects of excessive heat-stress; -the importance of immediate reporting to management personnel of the development of signs and symptoms of heat-related illness observed or reported by employees -first aid procedures for heat-related illness; -the importance of immediate administration of appropriate, first aid to workers reporting or displaying symptoms of heat-related illness;and -the effects of therapeutic drugs and social drugs(including alcohol) that may increase the risk of heat illness by reducing heat tolerance. 5)Implementing a heat acclimatization program to increase heat tolerance of new employees and employees returning from periods of absence of three or more days; 6)Providing a cooler, shaded area where heat-affected employees may take their breaks and recover when symptoms of heat-related illness; and if feasible, providing a climate-controlled area where heat-affected employees may recover when signs and symptoms of heat-related illness are recognized. 7)Providing adequately trained personnel at the work site to treat workers that develop signs and symptoms of a serious heat-related illness, specific procedures to be followed for heat-related emergency situations and procedures for the immediate administration of first aid 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 utilizing monitoring of core temperatures to better identify when workers need to be removed from excessive heat environments. THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19