Text For Citation: 03 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: (a) There are high risk factors for the development of cumulative trauma disorders at job stations such as bagging, sealing and feeding in departments such as Menus and Accessories, without an effective ergonomics program having been implemented. The stressors affecting the workers can be significantly reduced by a program that includes, but is not limited to the following: 1. A written ergonomics program must be established, endorsed and advocated by the highest levels of management and it must outline the employer's written ergonomics program must be communicated to all personnel. 2. A comprehensive worksite analysis must be conducted to identify all operations which present significant ergonomic risk factors. A written plan to reduce ergonomic hazards through the imple- mentation of appropriate engineering, work practice and administrative controls must be developed and executed. 3. A "break-in" or "conditioning" period of at least one week in length must be provided to employees who are entering a job which presents significant ergonomic risk factors. During this orientation, training and conditioning period, new or reassigned employees must be allowed to gradually build up to full speed and full shift work. 4. Employees must be informed about the ergonomic hazards to which they may be exposed so that they can actively and effectively participate in their own protection. The training program must discuss the potential risk of ergonomic illness and injuries, their means of prevention, and the steps which should be followed to receive proper medical evaluation and treatment. The training must also convey proper job-specific work practices and procedures. This training in the use of safe and efficient techniques must be performed by an experienced supervisory person who has received extensive training in ergonomics. 5. The medical management system must be supervised by a phy- sician or occupational health nurse with training in the prevention and treatment of cumulative trauma disorders (CTD's). Employees on each work-shift must have access to first level health care providers who are knowledgeable in the prevention, early recognition, treatment and rehabilitation of CTD's, and in the principles of ergonomics, physical asessment of employees, and OSHA recordkeeping requirements. Employees must be encouraged to report early signs and symptoms of CTD's to the in-plant health facility. There must be no disincentives which make employees reluctant to seek medical evaluation and treatment. 6. A medical condition must be recorded on the employer's log of occupational injuries and illnesses (the OSHA Form No. 200) when the occurrence of a disorder associated with repeated trauma is indicated by at least one physical finding such as swelling, redness or loss of motion is noted, ot when there is at least one subjective symptom (such as pain, numbness, tingling, aching, stiffness or burning) in combina- tion with: a) medical treatment, b) lost workdays, c) restricted activity and d) transfer to another job. 7. There must be a formal, documented tracking and surveillance program to monitor CTD trends. 8. Medical examinations must be provided initially, after one month and annually to employees who perform jobs involving repetitive motions. Methods of Abatement through engineering controls may include but are not limited to: 1. Provision of larger bags for packaging the menus. 2. Alternative configurations for each menu that would create a more stable and less bulky item for employees to handle in the bagging positions . 3. Redesign of the work stations so that they can be adjusted to meet the physical variables of each employee (i.e. height, arm reach). 4. Provision of stools for each employee so as to allow a combination of sitting and standing positions to relieve pressure in the upper body.