OSHA Inspection: HEUBLEIN, INC.

Issued

Sep 24, 1990

Abate by

Dec 27, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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
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.

Issued

Sep 24, 1990

Abate by

Nov 28, 1990

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $700

Issued

Sep 24, 1990

Abate by

Oct 26, 1990

Issued

Sep 24, 1990

Abate by

Oct 12, 1990

Issued

May 23, 1990

Abate by

May 26, 1990

Issued

May 23, 1990

Abate by

Jun 4, 1990