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 of serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to cumulative trauma disorders: EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE OPERATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS, WERE REQUIRED TO PERFORM DUTIES WHICH REQUIRE REPETITIVE HAND,WRIST, ARM, NECK AND/OR SHOULDER MOTIONS RESULTING IN STRESSES LIKELY TO CAUSE UPPER EXTREMITY CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS. A) DEPARTMENT 116 1) THE ASSEMBLERS OF BENCH WORKER D AT THE KICKPRESS STATION WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF FINGERS, HANDS AND FOOT/LEG RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF THE WRISTS, HANDS AND LEGS FROM FLIPPING HINGES UPSIDE DOWN WITH LEFT HAND/FINGERS, TAPPING THE HEADS OF THE PINS ON THE TABLE TO INSERT PINS IN ABD FROM KICKING THE FOOT PEDAL OF THE PRESS TO INSERT END BEARINGS IN. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION REST ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF MECHANICAL OR POWER FIXTURE TO INSERT END BEARINGS. b) USE OF ALTERNATE METHOD(S) TO FLIP HINGES UPSIDE DOWN. c) USE OF FIXTURE OR EQUIVALENT TO INSERT HINGE PINS IN. d) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED, SWIVEL AND ADJUSTABLE CHAIR. 2) THE ASSEMBLERS OF BENCH WORKER D, ADJACENT TO THE KICK PRESS STATION, WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF LEFT HANDS, FINGERS, RIGHT ELBOWS AND NECK/BACKS FROM GRABBING AND HOLDING HINGES WITH LEFT HANDS, TWISTING UPPER BODY TO RIGHT TO PLACE FINISHED HINGES INTO TRAYS AND OBSERVING WORK WHILE SITTING ON A CHAIR WITH NECK BENT DOWN. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ADJUSTABLE AND TILTABLE FIXTURE TO HOLD A STACK OF HINGES OR EQUIVALENT TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF HAND AS A FIXTURE. b) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIR TO AVOID TWISTING UPPER BODY AND STRESS TO THE BACK. c) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT WORK SURFACE TO AVOID NECK BENDING DOWN. d) USE OF TILT BOX OR EQUIVALENT TO HOLD PINS SO THAT EMPLOYEES CAN REACH IN DIRECTLY RATHER THAN REACHING OVER THE EDGE OF THE PIN BOX. B) DEPARTMENT 127 1) THE STRINGERS/RACKERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF WRISTS, SHOULDERS AND BACKS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS (CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME), SHOULDER EXTENSION AND LOWER BACK PAIN FROM STRINGING/UNSTRINGING HINGES ONTO HOOKS OF THE UMBRELLA RACKS, REACHING OUT FOR HOOKS/RACKS AND FROM STANDING CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY WHILE WORKING AT STATION. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILTY FOR HAZARD CORRECTIONS RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED RACKS OR EQUIVALENT SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO REACH AROUND HOOKS AND BEND WRISTS TO STRING/UNSTRING HINGES; E.G., TRIANGLE TYPE UMBRELLA RACKS RATHER THAN SQUARE TYPE. b) REDESIGN OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM OR EQUIVALENT SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO REACH OUT FOR HOOKS OR RACKS. c) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIRS, SIT/STAND STATIONS OR EQUIVALENT TO AVOID LONG STANDING FATIGUES. 2) BENCH AND MOD a) THE 908 STRAP HINGE ASSEMBLERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF FINGERS AND WRISTS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS AND FINGERS FROM PUSHING PALM BUTTON WITH MAINLYTHREE (3) FINGERS. b) THE 908 STRAP HINGE STAKERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF WRISTS AND FINGERS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS/FINGERS FROM CLOSING HINGES MANUALLY AND THROWING FINISHED HINGES TO LEFT. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) REDESIGN OR REPLACE THE PALM BUTTON OR EQUIVALENT SO THAT THE EMPLOYEES DO NOT USE FINGERS RATHER THAN PALMS TO ACTIVATE THE PRESSES. b) REDESIGN PIN INSERTING OR HINGE ASSEMBLING MECHANISM TO ELIMINATE MANUAL CLOSING OF HINGES WHILE STAKING. c) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION OR EQUIVALENT TO AVOID MANUAL THROWING OF FINISHED HINGES. C) DEPARTMENT 125 1) THE PACKERS OF 908 STRAP HINGES WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF RIGHT HAND, SHOULDER AND BACK RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS/HAND, EXTENSION OF SHOULDER INTO BOXES AND FROM STANDING AND TWISTING CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY TO REACH AND PACK HINGES. 2) THE PACKERS OF PACKER D WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF BOTH WRISTS/FINGERS AND RIGHT SHOULDER RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS/HANDS AND EXTENSION OF SHOULDER FROM CATCHING AND PLACING SCREWS ONTO PREPRINTED SHEETS, STRETCHING OUT BOTH ARMS TO PLACE SCREWS ON DIFFERENT BLOCKS OF SHEETS AND TWISTING UPPER BODY TO RIGHT FOR NEW SHEETS. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILTY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIRS OR STOOLS AND REPOSITION BINS OF HINGES TO AVOID TWISTING UPPER BODY. b) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION BY LOWERING BOX, FOLDING FLAPS AND PROVIDING WIDER SUPPORT BARS ON FRONT OF BOX STANDS SO THAT EMPLOYEES CAN TILT BOXES AND FEED HINGES DIRECTLY INTO BOXES RATHER THAN RAISING ARMS. c) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION OR EQUIVALENT TO AVOID STRETCHING OUT ARMS. d) REDESIGN OF SCREW EJECTING MECHANISM AND SCREW PLACING SYSTEM/PROCESS OR EQUIVALENT TO AVOID TWISTING BOTH WRIST/HANDS TO CATCH AND PLACE SCREWS ONTO SHEETS. D) DEPARTMENT 103 1) THE BENCH AND MOC DOOR ROLLER CATCH ASSEMBLERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF BOTH WRIST/FINGERS AND SHOULDERS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF FINGERS AND SHOULDERS FROM PRESSING DOWN PALM BUTTONS WITH BACK OF FINGERS, MAINLY FOUR(4) FINGERS - EXCEPT THUMBS -BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND KNUCKLES, WHILEBOTH SHOULDERS ARE ELEVATED. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS OR EQUIVALENT TO AVOID EMPLOYEES' SHOULDERS BEING RAISED. b) REDESIGN, REPLACE THE PALM BUTTONS OR EQUIVALENT SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT USE BACK OF FINGERS TO PRESS PALM BUTTONS. 2) THE 1205 BASE STAMPING PRESS OPERATORS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF WRISTS/FINGERS, ELBOWS/ARMS AND RIGHT SHOULDERS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF FINGERS, ELBOWS AND SHOULDERS FROM HOLDING/PINCH GRIPPING PARTS WITH LEFT HAND WEARING RESTRAIN DEVICE, LOADING PARTS WITH RIGHT HAND WEARING PULLBACK DEVICE AND FROM MOVING RIGHT SHOULDER TO "BACK AND UP" DURING PRESS DOWN CYCLES. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION OR EQUIVALENT SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT NEED TO HOLD PARTS WITH LEFT HAND/FINGERS. b) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION, USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS AND/OR EQUIVALENT SO EMPLOYEES' ARMS, ELBOWS AND SHOULDERS CAN BE AT REST POSITION RATHER THAN RAISED. c) REPLACE, REDESIGN OF THE PULLBACK DEVICE OR EQUIVALENT TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE SWINGING RADIUS OF THE PULLBACK ARMS. E) DEPARTMENT 105 1) THE BENCH AND MOC ASSEMBLERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF ELBOWS, SHOULDERS, FINGERS AND ARMS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS/FINGERS, ABDUCTION OF ARMS/ELBOWS AND EXTENSION OF SHOULDERS FORM FORCEFUL HAND GRIPPING AND PULLING WHILE REACHNG BACK AND RAKING HINGES INTO SHOOT, PINCH GRIPPING AND OUTWARD ROTATIONS OF RIGHT ARM WHIL PLACING HINGES INTO FEEDER AND FROM CONTACT STRESS ON UPPER LEFT ARM AND FOREARM WITH THE EDGE OF HINGE BIN. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION OR EQUIVALENT TO ELIMINATE MANUAL RAKINGOF HINGES. b) PAD EDGE OF BIN WITH SOFT OR FOAM MATERIAL TO ELIMINATE CONTACT STRESS. c) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIR OR REDESIGN OF WORK STATION BY ROTATING THE FEEDER TO ELIMINATE RAISING HAND(S) WHILE FEEDING HINGES. 2) THE BENCH AND MOD ASSEMBLERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF HANDS/FINGERS, ARMS AND SHOULDERS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF HANDS/WRISTS, ABDUCTION OF ELBOWS, EXTENSION OF SHOULDER AND FATIGUE IN LOWER BACK AND NECK FROM STANDING CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY LOOKING AT THE WORK WITH NECK BENT DOWN WHILE WORKING AT STATION, PINCH GRIPPING PARTS OF HINGES, TAPPING SIDE OF HINGES ONTO THE EDGE OF BENCH, TAPPING THE HEADS OF PINS WITH PALM OF RIGHT HAND TO INSERT PINS IN AND FROM TWISTING TO LEFT TO LOAD FINISHED HINGES INTO BOXES. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM ORREDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: A) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGN ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIR OR EQUIVALENT TO ELIMINATE TWISTING UPPER BODY, BENDING NECK DOWN AND TO HAVE ELBOWS, ARMS AND SHOULDERS IN NATURAL COMFORTABLE POSITION. B) USE OF MECHANICAL OR EQUIVALENT DEVICE(S) TO ELIMINATE TAPPING HINGES ONTO THE EDGE OF MACHINE BENCH WHILE HOLDING WITH HAND. C) USE OF MECHANICAL OR EQUIVALENT DEVICE TO INSERT HINGE PINS IN RATHER THAN TAPPING WITH PALM. F) DEPARTMENT 109 1) THE ELECTRIC HINGE ASSEMBLER(S) WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONSOF FINGERS, HAND AND ELBOWS RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS, ABDUCTION OF RIGHT ELBOWS AND SHOULDER FROM CLEANING OUT SMALL HOLES ON HINGES WITH HANDHELD DRILL BITS, PINCH GRIPPING WIRE ENDS TO PUSH WIRES THROUGH THE HOLES, TAPPING END FITTING WITH THE HANDLE OF HANDHELD SCREWDRIVER, THREADING HOLES ON HINGES WITH HANDHELD THREADER, SCREWING END FITTINGS IN WITH HANDHELD SCREWDRIVER, BRAIDING WIRES TOGETHER WITH FINGERS, STRIPPING WIRE END WITH A HANDHELD WIRE STRIPPER, TWISTING WIRE ENDS WITH FINGERS AND MAKING OPEN/CLOSE MOTIONS OF HINGES WITH BOTH HANDS WHILE TESTING. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED HAND TOOLS, POWER TOOLS, POWER FIXTURES OR EQUIVALENT FOR CLEANING AND THREADING HOLES OF HINGES, HOLDING HINGES DOWN, TAPPING AND SCREWING END FITTINGS IN. b) USE OF MECHANICAL WIRE STRIPPER OR EQUIVALENT THAT WOULD ELIMINATE FORCEFUL HAND GRIPPING AND PULLING. c) REDESIGN OF TESTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE TO ELIMINATE MAKING OPEN/ CLOSE MOTIONS WHILE PINCH GRIPPING HINGES WITH BOTH HANDS. 2) THE MISCELLANEOUS MOD ASSEMBLERS WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS OF BOTH HANDS AND ELBOWS/SHOULDER RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS, ABDUCTION OF ELBOWS AND/OR EXTENSION OF SHOULDERS AND FATIGUE IN LOWER BACK FROM STANDING CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY AT STATION REACHING OUT FOR PARTS AND LOADING/UNLOADING PARTS INTO MACHINE. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIR OR EQUIVALENT TO ELIMINATE TWISTING OF UPPER BODY. b) REDESIGN OF THE WORK STATION OR EQUIVALENT OT ELIMINATE REACHING OUT FOR PARTS. c) REDESIGN OF THE WORK STATION, EQUIPMENT OR RAISE THE EMPLOYEES SO THAT WRISTS WOULD BE IN STRAIGHT POSITION WHILE LOADING/UNLOADING RATHER THAN BENT DOWN. G) DEPARTMENT 117 THE PACKERS OF PACKER D WERE EXPOSED TO UNDUE REPETITIVE MOTIONS of HANDS, FINGERS AND BACK RESULTING IN STRESSES TO FLEXOR TENDON OF WRISTS, ABDUCTION OF ELBOWS OR EXTENSION OF SHOULDERS AND STRAINS IN LOWER BACK FROM STANDING CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY TWISTING AND REACHING FOR BRACKETS, EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF HAND AND FINGER MOTIONS WHILE ALIGNING AND GRASPING BRACKETS FOR PACKING, WIDE GRIPPING FORCE WHILE LIFTING AND PLACING BRACKETS INTO BOXES WITH ONE HAND AND FROM LONG REACHING AND FORWARD BENDING TO FREE BRACKETS STUCK UNDER "FINGERS" OF SHOOT. SINCE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBLITY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER, FEASIBLE AND USEFUL METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMIED TO: A) USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ADJUSTABLE AND SWIVEL CHAIRS, SIT/STAND STOOL OR EQUIVALENT; REDESIGN OF WORK STATION PLACING BOX ON STAND IN FRONT OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHER MEANS TO ELIMINATE TWISTING AND WORK WITH BOTH HANDS WHILE FACING THE CONVEYOR. B) REDESIGN OF THE PRODUCTION STATION OR RELATED SYSTEM OR INSTALL IDLER ARMS OR EQUIVALENT TO ALIGN BRACKETS IN CORRECT POSITION SO THAT EMPLOYEES REQUIRE LESS MANIPULATION OF BRACKETS AND HANDS. C) REDESIGN OR RAISE "FINGERS" TO HAVE BRACKETS SLIDE UNDER FREELY. D) REDESIGN OF WORK STATION OR KEEP THE BOXES CLOSE TO EMPLOYEES IN RIGHT POSITION SO THAT EMPLOYEES WOULD REQUIRE LESS WALKING AND TWISTING/TURNING TO BOXES. ABATEMENT SCHEDULE STEP 1- REDUCE THE PIECE RATE TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF REPETITIVE MOTION WORK PER EMPLOYEE OR ROTATE EMPLOYEES. STEP 2- SUBMIT TO THE AREA DIRECTOR A WRITTEN DETAILED PLAN OF ABATEMENT OUTLINING A SCHEDULE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS (CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME) REFERENCED IN THIS CITATION. THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, TARGET DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSISTEN WITH THE ABATEMENT DATES REQUIRED BY THIS CITATION. A. EVALUATION OF THE EXTENT AND LOCATION OF THE HAZARD SOURCE. B. EVALUATION OF CONTROL MEASURE OPTIONS. C. SELECTION OF OPTIMUM CONTROL MEASURES. D) DETERMINATION OF CONTROL MEASURE DESIGN. E) ORDERING AND DELIVERING OF ANY EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. F) INSTALLATION OF CONTROL MEASURES. G) TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES: 1) JOBS WHERE THE POTENTIAL FOR REPETITIVE MOTION INJURIES/ILNESSES EXIST. 2) ERGONOMIC METHODS OF HOLDING AND HANDLING MATERIALS AND PERFORMING REQUIRED WORK. 3) PROPER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NEWLY IMPLEMENTED MEASURES. H) ASSURANCE OF EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CONTROL MEASURES. ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE EVALUATED FOR EACH PARTICULAR USE BY A TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED PERSON. PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD. STEP 3- CORRECTION SHALL BE COMPLETED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEASIBLE ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AT ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE VERIFIED.