Text For Citation: 02 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 exposed to repetitive hand and wrist motions resulting in stresses likely to cause cumulative trauma disorders: BOTTLING: EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED IN THIS DEPARTMENT WERE EXPOSED TO REPETITIVE MOTION OF THE WRIST, HAND AND FINGERS THAT RESULTED IN COMPRESSION OF THE MEDIAN NERVE INSIDE THE CARPAL TUNNEL (CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME); INFLAMMATION OF THE EPICONDYLE OR TISSUES ADJOINING THE EPICONDYLE (LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS) OR INFLAMMATION OF TENDONS AND/OR THE SURROUNDING SYNDOVIA (TENDINITIS OR TENOSYNOVITIS) FROM OPERATING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HAND BENDING OF LABELS. WHILE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILIY FOR HAZARD CORRECTION RESTS ON THE EMPLOYER SOME FEASIBLE METHODS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR REDUCE THE HAZARD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS: 1) AWARENESS TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE EARLY SIGNS OF CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS. 2) AWARENESS TRAINING FOR EARLY REPORTING OF CUMULATIVE TRAUMA SYMPTOMS BY EMPLOYEES AND PROMPT EMPLOYER RESPONS WITH A MEDICAL REFERRAL. 3) JOB ROTATION/RELIEF PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN REPETITIVE MOTION TASKS. ENGINEERING CONTROLS: 1) ELIMINATE LABLE BENDING AND FANNING BY DEVELOPING A LABEL BENDING DEVICE. 2) IMPROVEMENT OF LABELING MACHINE BY REPLACEMENT WITH MORE ADVANCED LABELER MODEL. 3) ELIMINATE LABEL BENDING AND FANNING BY CONSULTING WITH LABEL VENDORS TO IMPROVE LABEL QUALITY AND PACKAGING TO REDUCE LABEL DISTORTION. ABATEMENT SCHEDULE STEP 1- 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 THE CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS REFERENCED IN THIS CITATION. THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, TARGET DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSISTENT 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 MEASURE(S). D) DETERMINATION OF CONTROL MEASURE DESIGN. E) ORDERING AND DELIVERY OF ANY EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. F) INSTALLATION OF CONTROL MEASURES. G) TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES. 1) JOB(S) WHERE THE POTENTIAL FOR REPETITIVE MOTION INJURIES EXIST. 2) ERGONOMIC METHOD(S) OF HOLDING AND HANDLING MATERIALS AND PERFORMING REQUIRED WORK. 3) PROPER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NEWLY IMPLEMENTED CONTROL MEASURES. H) ASSURANCE OF EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CONTROL MEASURES. PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE EVALUATED BY A TECHNICALLY QUALIFED PERSON. PROGRESS REPORT(S) ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD. STEP 2- CORRECTION SHALL BE COMPLETED BY IMPLEMENTATION OF FEASIBLE ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AT ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE VERIFIED. 7) Provisions for a standby observer located outside the confined space and a means of communications with the worker inside the confined space and a means of obtaining immediate help in emergency. 8) Provisions and procedures for readily available emergency standby equipment consisting of a safety line and harness arrangement and a self contained breathing apparatus certified by NIOSH.