Text For Citation: 02 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 the hazard of heat stress and other heat related health problems while working hot environment: a) Steel Producing Division 1) Open Hearth Department - An employee performing maintenance operations in the counterweight area for the jib cranes above each hearth furnace on the pit side was subjected to heat exposure in excess of the American Conference of Governmental Industrail Hygienists (ACGIH) permissible heat exposure threshold limit values. The Fairless Works experienced 17 cases of heat related illnesses in 1988, 9 of which occurred in the Open Hearth Department, observed September 15, 1989. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a heat stress prevention program which includes, but is not limited to the following items: 1) Acclimatization of new employees and workers returning from and absence of two weeks or more through short exposures followed by longer periods of work in hot enviroments over a five (5) day period. 2) Utilization of Engineering controls, such as cooling fans, whenenver feasible to reduce heat exposures. 3) Use of personal protective devices such as ice vests to reduce heat exposures during short term exposures in severe heat environments. 4) Establishing alternating work and rest periods in cooler areas to avoid heat stress. 5) Educating employees in the recognition of heat disorders, the nature of hazards involved with heat exposure, and the necessary precautions to be taken relative to prevention of heat related health problems. 6) Where it has been determined that the hot environment is in an isolated area and visual contact with the employee is obscured, utilization of a standby person to constantly monitor the employees movement until he/she leaves the hot environment.