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If you thought fall’s cooler temperatures would eliminate the risk for heat exposure, think again. Keep reading to learn about the experience of an employer recently cited under OSHA’s bedrock employee protection standard.
A Pennsylvania plastic products maker was recently cited for violating OSHA’s General Duty Clause (GDC), Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, for exposing employees to heat stress conditions. The GDC requires that covered employers provide “employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” In this case, OSHA found that during their 12-hour work shift, machine operators were exposed to excessive heat while operating rotational molding ovens operating at 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
OSHA Area Director Theresa A. Naim commented, “Heat stress is not only an outdoor health hazard. Employees working indoors in elevated temperatures can also demonstrate the symptoms of heat-related illness.” She added that heat stress can be reduced significantly when employers establish an effective heat illness prevention program.
Read more here.