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) Employees were exposed to the hazard of repetitive hand operations in Department 41/43 Plastics during the turntable operation and in Department 31 Assembly during final assembly and packaging of product. These operations can result in repetitive motion trauma disorders such as but not limited to carpal tunnel symdrome, ganglion cysts, and tenosynovitis causing employee lost work time or permanent disability. One feasible and acceptable method, among others, to correct the hazard is: STEP 1- Institute a training program to inform emloyees of hazard of repetitive motion and work practices to reduce the hazards. Increase rotation of employees with known medical problems to operations not associated with repetitive motion trauma. STEP 2- Provide an ergonomics evaluation by a qualified person of all operations covered by this citation. The evaluation shall include at least. a) Redesign of work srtation, such as the angle at which parts are grabbed. b) Changes in work operations, such as automation of turntable operation. STEP 3- Modify work method to reduce worker stress. STEP 4- Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of any or all of the measures outlined above and by verification of the effectiveness of the measures taken through an evaluation of the ergonomic health of the employees.