OSHA Inspection: WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC

Issued

Jan 5, 1990

Abate by

Jan 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

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
an increased risk of development cumulative trauma disorders;
a) Employees working in the Brewing Dept. who rotate to the Chip Crew
Positions were exposed to an increased risk of developing cumulative
trauma disorders while performing job tasks involving repetitive
movements in the Chip Department. Employees have experienced
cumulative trauma disorders such as, but not limited to, carpal
tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, epicondylitis,
strains and numbness of the hands and forearms.
b) Employees who are part of the Brew House Rotation in the Brewing
Dept. rotate into the Hops Room where they are exposed to an
increased risk of developing cumulative trauma disorders while
breaking apart the hops bundles by hand and with tools such as
hammers and t-barsh. Employees have experienced cumulative trauma
disorders such as, but not limited to, tendonitis and carpal tunnel
syndrome.
c) Employees working in the Beer Packaging and Shipping Dept. were
exposed to an increased risk of cumulative trauma disorders while
performing job tasks at positions such as, but not limited to:
1) Carton Balance and/or Uncaser Lines 10 and 20
2) Targeteers
3) Inspection
4) Line 62 - Can Line
Employees have experienced cumulative trauma disorders such as, but not
limited to, tendonitis and epicondylitis.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is the implementation of a Comprehensive Cumulative
Trauma Disorder Prevention Program. This program shall include as a
minimum, the following elements:
1) Identification of all employees who experience symptoms associated
with cumulative trauma disorders.
2) Professional ergonomic assessments of each operation with cumulative
trauma disorder incidences to identify mechanical stressors which
may be produced by the environment, tools or work methods.
3) Implementation of control measures for reducing mechanical stressors
due to work operation design and/or reducing job repetitiveness. Such
measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Implement a rotation schedule in the Beer Packaging and Shipping
Dept. which limits the amount of time spent in areas such as, but not
limited to, Targeteer, Carton Balance/Uncaser, Can Line 62 and
Inspection.
b) Investigate an alternative method for breaking apart empty boxes on
the Targeteer Lines.
c) Install a second scissors lift for the boxes at the south Targeteer
station closest to the wall and reduce the stacking height of the
boxes on each lift of both Targeteers.
d) Decrease the stacking height of the boxes in Carton Balance to
eliminate reaching above the head. Utilize hand pressure on the
outside of the boxes to pick them up instead of finger gripping.
e) Investigate a conveyor system to move stacked boxes back onto the
line to eliminate reaching and twisting motions at Carton Balance.
f) Install scissors lifts at the inspection area to eliminate lifting
boxes of beer. Investigate an alternative method for hand-inserting
beer cans in the Hi-Cone.
g) Decrease the carton stacking height for the Line 62 - Can Line.
h) Implement alternative methods to feed chips into the chip tanks.
i) Investigate the use of ergonomically correct tools in the Hops Room
for breaking apart the hops.
4) Implementation of a workplace education and awareness program for
employees and supervisors aimed at the prevention of cumualtive
trauma disorders.
5) Implementation of a medical surveillance and treatment program for
employees exposed to repetitive motion hazards.
The program should contain elements such as, but not limited to:
a) Pre-employment examinations with special attention to a review of
those musculoskeletal groups deemed necessary by qualified medical
personnel who are familiar with the stressors of each job category.
A review of employee work histories relative to repetitive trauma
disorders should also be conducted.
b) Medical examinations and counseling of employees as soon as symptoms
generally associated with cumualtive trauma disorders are reported.
c) Temporary removal of employees experiencing cumulative trauma
disorders from a specific operation to an area where injuries will
not be compounded. Note: The Inspection Area in Beer Packaging and
Shipping is inappropriate light duty for those experiencing
cumulative trauma disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand.
d) Follow-up of mild cases of impairment to ensure medical treatment
and job changes have been effective.
Abatement will normally be multi-step as follows:
STEP 1:
Implement effective administrative protection such as additional
employee training, job rotation and physical assessments.
STEP 2:
Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the development and implementation of the
Cumulative Trauma Disorder Prevention Program. This plan shall include,
at a minimum, target dates for the following actions whcih 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
measures.
4) Assure effective utilization of the control measures.
All proposed control measures shall be approved for use by a
person trained in the evaluation of workplace conditions which
cause cumulative trauma disorders. Thirty day progress reports
are required during the abatement period.
STEP 3:
Abatement shall be completed by implementation of feasible engineering
or administrative controls and by verification of their effectiveness in
reducing the occurrence of cumulative trauma disorders.

Issued

Jan 5, 1990

Abate by

Feb 7, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

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
the hazard of oxygen deficient or toxic atmospheres from entry into
confined spaces:
a) Employees working in confined spaces such as, but not limited to,
the Chips Tanks and Lauter Tun Tanks were exposed to the hazard of
excessive levels of carbon dioxide and/or oxygen deficiency.
Procedures established for work in confined spaces were inadequate
in that:
1) Continuous ventilation and air monitoring for oxygen and carbon
dioxide were not performed for the work duration inside the Chips
Tanks. The removal of the chips could result in employee exposure
to excessive levels of carbon dioxide and/or oxygen deficiency if
there were any build-up of carbon dioxide within the chips mixture.
2) In the Lauter Tun Tanks, testing for oxygen deficiency was not
conducted at the bottom of the tanks where the plates are lifted
for cleaning.
3) Adequate training on emergency response operations in confined spaces
was not provided for employees who work in the tanks. (Note:
Employees shall be trained that under no circumstances should they
attempt a rescue inside a tank without proper Self-Contained
Breathing Apparatus and standby personnel.)
b) On 8/9/89, employees working in the Chip Cooker were exposed to the
hazard of contact with caustic cleaning solution and/or drowing in
that the appropriate valves were not tagged with the notice of
workers inside the tank.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method would
be to improve upon the existing confined space entry program as follows:
1) Provide continuous ventilation and air monitoring for oxygen and
carbon dioxide for the work duration inside the Chips Tanks or
provide an approved air-supplied breathing apparatus with escape
provisions.
2) Provide adequately trained standby personnel equipped with a
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus at each tank where operations
are occurring if continuous ventilation and continuous air monitoring
is not provided.
3) Perform testing for oxygen deficiency throughout the Lauter Tun Tanks
prior to entry especially at the bottom where the employees will be
working. (Note: This should be common practice for any tank or vessel
which is entered at the plant.)
4) Ensure that appropriate valves are tagged or locked out for each tank
entered.
5) Improve employee training for confined space entry procedures with an
emphasis on tag-out prior to entry and appropriate action in an
emergency situation.

Issued

Jan 5, 1990

Abate by

Feb 7, 1990

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Issued

Jan 5, 1990

Abate by

Feb 7, 1990

Issued

Jan 5, 1990

Abate by

Feb 7, 1990