Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 119 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 who sustained cumulative trauma disorder(s) were exposed to increased risk of aggravation to existing injuries and illnesses and developing further injuries and illnesses: (a) Employee number 45 who was exposed to undue repetitive motion trauma, excessive force and awkward finger, hand and arm positions while performing vacuum forming operations on Line 19 underwent a removal of a bony spurs on the left thumb on October 27, 1989 and December 7, 1990. No second opinion was sought prior to the surgical procedure and the employee worked at the same job position until surgery. There was no evidence that job reassignment or modification, days off work or restricted work activity was used as a therapeutic approach for conservative medical treatment to address the CTD problem prior to the surgery. A return to work fitness evaluation was not performed by the Medical Department upon the employees return to the Samsonite Corporation Denver Plant on December 4, 1989 to restricted duty and on January 8, 1990 to full duty. The employee was returned to work at the same position after surgery and was told to wear a splint at work. The employee continued to experience pain but continued to work at the same position until the second surgery. The second hand surgeon returned the employee to work at the same position, after the employ- ee had been rated as having 5% permanent partial disability of the left non dominant hand at the level of the wrist. This task has been identified as a high risk for ergonomic illness. ABATEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: OPERATION 101 1) Completely pad edge of bin. 2) Provide more room for the operator for comfort and safety. 3) Use height and orientation adjustable machines to reduce wrist deviation s 4) Provide adjustable work station to reduce awkward postures. 5) Provide platform on rivet machine so worker does not have to hold frames or using hand tool. 6) Provide shock absorbing footwear or even, cushioned fatigue mat througho u ABATEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: OPERATION 505 1) Increase work space to reduce congestion and improve safety and convenie n 2) Automate stripping process to avoid repetitive wrist deviations and trun k 3) Pre-cut strips of stripping material into appropriate lengths to elimina t 4) Provide an adjustable fixture to hold the frame for strip application. 5) Provide holster for the scissors. 6) Provide racks which do not require reaching over the shoulder or bending . 7) Use appropriate footwear in lieu of fatigue mats or platforms. ABATEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: OPERATIONS 383/577/694 1) Provide more room for operator. 2) Provide adjustable machines and work tables to prevent stooping and extr e 3) Design multi-punch or drill for frames to eliminate manual punching. 4) Change location of handle punch controls. 5) Design punch machine so it is not necessary to hold frame during punch, e posture. 6) Provide even, cushioned fatigue mat throughout work area, or advise oper a shock absorbing shoes. 7) Provide cutting device for cutting exact length of stripping material or SEE ABATEMENT NOTE: "ERGONOMICS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM"