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

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 employee(s) in that employee(s) were required to perform tasks involving repetitive motions resulting in stresses that had caused, were causing, or were likely to cause cumulative trauma disorders: a) Workplace; Pathmark of New Hyde Park, NY, Front End, Cashier Checkstand; on or about 2/6/90 to 5/25/90; Employee(s) who repeatedly perform checkout operations at checkstand(s) (scan & bag and scan & throw) which involves frequent repetitive tasks of reaching, scanning, keying, weighing, baggins and lifting of groceries, requiring various hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck and back postures, were exposed to ergonomic stresses resulting from high finger or grip forces, awkward body postures such as flexed and extended wrists, frequent reaches at excessive distances and frequent torso flexations with weighted objects which are likely to result in upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (UECTD) and cumulative low back injuries. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is the implementation of an ergonomics management program consisting of the following four elements: 1) Worksite analysis to recognize and identify existing cumulative trauma disorders in the workplace. This analysis should include development and use of an ergonomic checklist and employee questionnaire. Periodic surveys of the worksite shall be conducted at least annually to evaluate work practices and engineering controls. Employee participation in the ergonomic program should be encouraged. 2) Medical management which includes accurate recordkeeping of CTDs. The program should address early recognition, evaluation and referral of CTD cases, and should include conservative treatment and conservative return to work. Systematic worksite review by the medical team should also be included in the program. 3) Training and education for exposed employees, including methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Re-training should be done annually, or as operations change. Training should address hazards associated with the job, the risks of developing CTDs, symptoms of exposure, and how to prevent the occurrence of CTD. A supervisors' training program should also be implemented to allow recognition of the signs of CTDs and to reinforce the employer's ergonomic program. 4) Hazard prevention and control which includes engineering, work practice and administrative controls where relevant. Examples of engineering, work practices and administrative controls applicable to this workplace include: A. Known Hazard Utilization of a pinch grip when placing objects on the scale. The development of carpal tunnel syndrome and sore hands it consistent with the utilization of a pinch grip while exerting force. Known Control Train employees to utilize a two handed power grip when handling heavy objects. When handling lighter objects utilize a one hand power grip rather than a pinch grip. B. Known Hazard Highly repetitive grasping of items frequently using a pinch grip, with flexion of the right wrist while pulling groceries across the scanner. The development of carpal tunnel syndrome and sore hands is consistent with frequent gripping and wrist deviations. Known Control 1) Educate the operator on the importance of maintaining a neutral wrist while performing repetitive motions. 2) Educate the operator on the importance of utilizing a power grip rather than a pinch grip when scanning groceries. 3) Redesign the check-out stand to allow the operator to face the scanner. This will allow the operator to pull objects across the scanner while maintaining a neutral wrist. 4) Train the operator to maintain a neutral wrist while pulling groceries sideways across the scanner. 5) Educate the operator to manually key in items rather than scanning them three of four times. Keying in multiple purchases of a single item will also reduce repetitive motions. C. Known Hazard Frequent reaches and bending over at the waist in excess of 6 degrees to 10 degrees from vertical with the arms extended out in front of the body to pick groceries from the customer side of the conveyor. Frequent reaches and torso flexion are consisten with the development of shoulder irritation and low back problems. Known Control 1) Install a guide along the wall of the conveyor closest to the customer to direct the groceries closer to the cashier. 2) Remove the metal plates in front and back of the scanner allowing the groceries and cashier to get close to the scanner. A standard reach of 16 to 17 inches is recommended. 3) Reduce the size of the scanner allowing the cashier to get closer to the groceries. 4) Position the cashier in front of the scanner rather then to the side, thus reducing reach distances. 5) Educate the operator on the importance of not performing repetitive reaches and torso twists while picking up groceries. 6) For shorter cashiers provide work platforms which will elevate them and bring them closer to the groceries, scales and keyboards. 7) Relocate the automatic eye, which stops the conveyor, closer to the scanner bringing the groceries onto the metal plate and closer to the cashier. 8) Educate the operator not to reach for items to be scanned, allowing the conveyor belt to bring the items to the scanner. 9) Decrease the size of the bag holding platform to the minimum width needed. This will bring the bagger closer to the groceries and reduce the reach distance. 10) Cut out the right side of the bagging platform allowing the cashier to stand closer to the groceries. Only one bag will be utilized but the cashiers reach distance will be decreased. 11) Cut out the middle section of the bagging platform and move the two bagging holders out to the sides. This will allow the cashier to stand in the middle of the bag holders and be closer to the groceries. D. Known Hazard Utilization of a one handed pinch grip when lifting up the plastic bag and twisting and bending of the torso while placing it on the conveyor or handing the bag to the customer. Reaching behind the body with the left arm to place the bag on the conveyor or pass to the customer. Pinch grips when lifting heavy objects is consistent with the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Excessive reaches and twisting while lifting weighted objects is consistent with the development of low back problems and shoulder irritation. Known Controls. 1) Educate the employees on the importance of utilizing a two handed power grip when lifting plastic bags. One hand on top and one on the bottom may be desirable. 2) Educate the employees on the importance of utilizing proper lifting techniques at all times. . 3) The cashier should be instructed on how to properly grip the bags, keeping the horizontal distance between the bag and the body as low as possible, and to avoid twisting at all times while handling grocery bags and other heavy items. Gripping the bag close to the body while turning the feet and not the torso will reduce the twisting hazard considerably. E. Known Hazard Reaching above shoulder height, with the arms extended out in front of the body, and bending over at the waist in excess of 6 degrees to 10 degrees from the vertical while placing objects on the produce scale. Reaches with weighted objects and torso flexion while the arms are extended out away from teh body is consistent with the development of arm and shoulder injury and low back pain. Known Control 1) Weigh and price all produce in the produce department rather than require the cashier to perform this step at the checkstand. 2) Locate the scale in front of the cashier with a minimal reach of 17 inches forward, lower the scal so the cashier does not raise the hands above shoulder height and keep the reach distance to the sides to a minimum. F. Known Hazard Excessive reach out and behind the body with left arm to push groceries onto the conveyor which removes them to the bagging area. Repetitive reaches out behind the body is consistent with the development of arm and shoulder injuries and low back problems. Known Control 1) Extend the voneyor closer to the cashier to eliminate reaches behind the body. 2) Educate the operator to turn the body around, by moving the feet, and place the objects onto the conveyor without reaching behind the body. G. Known Hazard Excessive reaches for groceries, keyboards, and scales when shorter people are utilizing cashier stands. Known Control Provide elevated work platforms for shorter employee(s) that will position them to optimum working heights. H. Elevation of the left elbow up and out away from the body when groceries are backed up on the conveyor. Elbow elevation and extension away from the body is consistent with the development of shoulder and arm pain. Known Control Educate the operator not to stack objects adjacent to the scanner causing the elevation of the elbow and shoulder. I. Maintenance of a static torso flexed posture during placement of items in plastic bags. Torso flexion is consistent with low back problems. Known Control 1) Provide an adjustable bagging platform that can be moved to fit the cashiers anthropometry. 2) Educate the cashiers on the importance of maintaining a neutral back and on the utilization of the adjustable bagging platforms. J. Known Hazard The cashier stands in a relatively static posture for long periods. Static standing postures can cause generalized fatigue of the feet, leg and back muscles which is a principle cause of musculoskeletal injury. Known Control Provide sit/stand stools or lean bars which will allow the cashiers the option to sit or stand rather than maintaining the same posture for the entire shift. Anti-fatigue mats improve blood circulation and reduce static pooling. MULTI-STEP ABATEMENT Step 1 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employees exposures to musculoskeletal injuries when manual material hand ling. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: (1) Development and implementation of a comprehensive training program. (2) Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source. (3) Evaluation of control measure options. (4) Selection of optimum control measures. (5) Implementation of control measures. (6) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the control measures and, if necessary, the alteration and/or substitution of other control measures. (7) Assurance of effective performance of final control measures. Forty-five day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Step 2 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.