OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
APPEALS BOARD

Summary of Disneyland - DAR

Employer painted the surface of the dock at one of its rides with a compound containing the hazardous substance Styrene that is released into the air as a gas or vapor for approximately one hour after the compound is applied. Employees reported a strong odor and had symptoms consistent with excessive exposure to Styrene. Employer did not monitor the area for exposure to Styrene when the employees became ill. The Division cited Employer under section 5155(e)(1) for failure to monitor. The duty to monitor arises when "it is reasonable to suspect that employees may be exposed to concentrations of airborne contaminants in excess of the PELs." The Board held that the presence of Styrene in the compound, the manner and extent of its use and the employees’ symptoms that were consistent with Styrene exposure in excess of PELs, raised reasonable suspicion of excessive exposure. Since Employer failed to monitor for Styrene when apprised of the reasonable suspicion, the general violation and civil penalty were upheld. The ALJ's credibility determinations, based in part on witness demeanor, were not disturbed (Garza 3 C 3rd 312, 319). The safety order is not unenforceably vague.

DISNEYLAND 97-2357
June 8, 2001