OSHA Inspection: TRANEX ELECTRONICS, INC.

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Aug 8, 1990

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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
cumulative trauma disorders:
a) The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment
which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely
to cause serious physical harm to employees in that employees in the
coil finishing and coil winding areas are exposed to cumulative
trauma disorders of the arms and hands.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these
hazards is the implementation of a comprehensive cumualtive trauma
disorder prevention program. This program shall include, but not be
limtied to the following:
Step 1:
1) Identification of all employees who have previously experienced or
are experiencing symptoms with cumulative trauma disorders.
2) Perform an ergonomic evaluation of the workplace to identify physical
and mechanical stressors induced by procedures, tools, and work
methods.
3) Implementation of a comprehensive workplace education and awareness
program for managers and employees. Such a program should be aimed
at maintenance of musculoskeletal health, identification of problems
and the treatment of prevention of injuries. This program shall
include as a minimum:
a) Identification of movements, stressors, and duties which lead to
injury.
b) Explanation of ergonomic principles and designs to reduce injury.
c) A procedure which allows employee input and suggestions for
improvement of ergonomic problems.
d) Emphasis on procedures, postures, equipment, tools and work practices
which will reduce injury.
Step 2: Implementation of control measures for reducing job
repetetiveness. Such measures may include, but are not limited to the
following:
a) Modification of work stations to reduce reaching distances, carrying
heavy parts, pulling of tapes.
b) Rotation of employees out of operations which require repetitive
motion duties.
5) Implementation of control measures for reducing biomechanical forces
induced by tools and equipment. Such measures may include, but are
not limited to the following:
a) Modify existing work stations employing ergonomic principles to
provide correct body postures, body supports and height relative to
the work table.
b) Modify existing vises, employing ergonomic principles to provide
correct body, arm and hand postures and height relative to the work
table.
c) Modification of existing hand tools, and acquisition of ergonomically
designed hand tools to reduce pressure points, fit the employees'
hands, and reduce anatomical stressors.
d) Implementation of the use of mechanically assisted tools to
conduct operations which require crimping, crushing, cutting,
hammering, pulling, and pressure winding.
6) Implementation of a medical surveillance and treatment program for
employees exposed to repetitive motion hazards. This program shall
contain the following, as a minimum:
a) Pre-employment examinations with special attention to anatomical
nerve and muscle distribution, flexibility, strength, stamina
testing, and work history, relative to cumulative trauma disorders.
b) Medical examinations and counciling of symptomatic employees as soon
as they are reported.
c) Employees should be prohibited from returning to their former duties
post-surgery, unless the workplace hazard has been eliminated.
d) Management and follow-up of all injuries to ensure that treatment
and duties changes have been effective.
Step 3:
7) Implementation of a periodic evaluation of the comprehensive
cumulative trauma disorder prevention program, (e.g. annually), to
determine its continuing effectiveness.
STEP 1: Effective administrative protection may include but not be
limited to employee training, job rotation, etc., shall be provided as
an interim protective measure until feasible engineering or permanent
administrative controls can be implemented which will reduce employee
exposure.
STEP 2: Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implemenation of engineering or
administrative measures of control employee exposure to undue repetitive
motion trauma. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for
the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required
by this citation.
1) Evaluation of the conditions, locations, and activities that the
employees are performing.
2) Evaluation of applicable control measure(s).
3) Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control
measure(s).
4) Assure effective utilization of the control measure(s).
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular
use by a person trained in the evaluation of workplace conditions
which cause repetitive motion disorders. Thirty (30) day progress
reports are required during the abatement period.
STEP 3: Abatement shall be completed by 6/8/90, by implementation of
feasible engineering or admininstrative controls and by verification of
their effectiveness in reducing the occurrence of musculoskeletal
injuries.

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 13, 1989

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $360 Reduced

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Jan 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 26, 1989

Penalty

Initial $560

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 26, 1989

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Jan 26, 1990

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Jan 26, 1990

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 13, 1989

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Jan 13, 1990

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Issued

Dec 8, 1989

Abate by

Dec 26, 1989