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

North Carolina General Statute 95.129 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish each of his employees condit ions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that w ere causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in th at employees were exposed to heat-related hazards associated with working in a h ot environment. (a) Worksite - On or about July 28, 2012, an employee died of Hy perthermia (Heat Stroke) while working in a tobacco field located at 239 Stones Chapel Road, Trenton, NC. Employees performed hand labor in tobacco fields for t wo (2) consecutive days while the heat indices consistently remained in Extreme Caution and Danger ranges according to the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administr ations (NOAA) National Weather Service. The average heat index during the hours worked on July 27, 2012 was 104.9$F with a high of 115$ F. The average heat inde x during the hours worked on July 28, 2012 (the day of death) was 96.4$F with a high of 102$F. The employer had not developed an effective heat stress prevention program to recognize and a void heat-related illnesses and hazards associated with working in a hot environ ment. Abatement Notice: One feasible and acceptable means of abatement, among ot hers, to correct this hazard is to develop a heat stress prevention program to i nclude elements such as the following: 1) Developing a heat stress training prog ram to inform employer and employees about the effects of heat stress and how to recognize heat-related symptoms and prevent heat-related illnesses; 2) Utilizin g an acclimatization program for new employees when they begin working in hot en vironments; 3) Monitoring weather conditions and establishing work schedules and break periods to minimize heat exposure; 4) Providing shade areas or other cool areas for breaks; 5) Implementing a scree ning program to determine any causal factors that may affect the employee's heat illness susceptibility; 6) Ensuring an adequate supply of drinking water is ava ilable and training employees on the importance of adequate fluid intake and hyd ration; 7) Establishing and implementing a program and method for reporting empl oyees exhibiting signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses; and 8) Establishi ng and implementing emergency response procedures for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.