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 employees in that employees were required to perform lifting tasks resulting in stresses that had caused, were causing, or were likely to cause musculoskeletal injuries: (a) Rough Grind Area - Ware handlers were lifting and carrying neck and neckless funnels to Rough Grind Area. The evaluation of this manuel lifting task indicates that employees are exposed to a hazard which is causing or likely to cause musculoskeletal injuries. The employer did not implement an effective control strategy to reduce or eliminate such injuries. The injury and illness records for 1990 and 1991 document a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries, on or about December 31, 1991. 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 ergonomic checklist and employee questi- onnaire. 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, 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. Retraining 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 practices, and administrative controls, and personal protective equipment were relevant. (a) Administrative controls are implemented which reduce the duration, frequency, and severity of exposure to ergonomic stress. These controls may include job rotation, reduction of repetitions, and preventative maintenance of related equipment. Personal protective equipment shall be evalua- ted to determine any contribution to ergonomic stress. (b) Work practice controls are implemented which included proper work techniques, new employee conditioning, and monitoring and modifications as necessary to minimize ergonomic stressors. Examples of work practice controls applicable to this workplace include: 1) Rotation of employees. (c) Engineering controls are designed by a qualified ergonom- ist and may include work station redesign, tool and handle redesign, and change of work methods. The goal of this program should be to make the job fit the person. Examples of work practice controls applicable to this workplace include: 1) Installation of lifting device. Step 1 - Implementation of an ergonomics program for worksite analy- sis, medical management, and training and education, as detailed in items 1-3 above. Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement, outlining a schedule for the implementation of the administrative, work practice and engineering controls as detailed in items 4(a) - 4(c). ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH PARTICULAR USE BY A PERSON TRAININED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE CONDITIONS WHICH CAUSE CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS. NINETY (90) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD. Step 3 - Implementation of administrative, work practices and engineering controls, as described in items 4(a) - 4(c), above.