OSHA Inspection: GLASS GARDENS, INC. T/A SHOP RITE

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Feb 1, 1995

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $400 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:
a) Shop Rite Store, Front End, Cashier Checkstands: Employees who
repeatedly perform checkout operations at checkstand (scan & bag and
scan & pass) which involves frequent repetitive motion tasks of
reaching, grasping, scanning, keying, weighing, bagging and lifting
groceries, requiring various hand, wrist, elbow, arm, shoulder,and
back postures, were exposed to ergonomic stresses (resulting from
high finger or grip forces, and awkward body postures, such as
flexion and extension of wrists, frequent and excessive reaches and
torso flexions, elbows above mid-torso, torso twisting with weighted
objects, and static torso flexed posture) which have the potential to
cause upper extemity cumulative trauma disorders (UECTDS) and low
back pain and problems. Observed on or about 12/15/89.
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct these hazards,
among other methods, are:
1) Develop, in writing, and implement a comprehensive education,
training and supervision program for all exposed employees and their
supervisors and managers to familiarize them with the basics of body
biomechanics and in the hazards of repetitive motion and resulting
cumulative trauma disorders and in controls and work practices that
can be used to minimize the ergonomic hazards and injuries associated
with their jobs. This training should be conducted when the employee
is initially hired and biannually for all current employees. The
training, as a minimum, should include proper grasping, scanning,
weighing, bagging and lifting techniques with explanationsof the
ergonomic benefits, body posture and stresses to avoid, and other
relevant issues, and also allow demonstrations of safe and effective
methods of performing their jobs.
2) Implement engineering and administrative controls that deal with job,
task, work station and equipment modification to reduce extreme
posture, excessive forces, and repetitive motions.
Engineering Controls:
Replace or redesign and modify the existing cashier checkstands based
on ergonomic criteria so as to reduce reach distances, and minimize
harmful torso and upper extremity flexations, awkward body postures and
lifting during grasping, scanning, weighing, bagging and lifting
operations; including, the delivery system where heavy and bagged items
are supplied to the customer or put into the customer's shopping cart.
Some examples of redesign consideration are: position the cashier in
front of the scanner rather than to the side so that they are closer
to the items on the front conveyor; provide guide bars to direct the
items closer to the cashier; reduce the size of the scanning area;
modify bag holding devices and bag shelf in the scan and bag operation
to allow the cashier to stand closer to the front conveyor; provide
elevated work platform; relocate the automatic eyes on the front
conveyor; provide adjustable bag shelves and decrease their width;
provide shopping carts that have a fold down front side; provide stools
or lean bars; extend the back conveyor and provide a conveyor switch
button on the back end of the checkstand and only bag items from the
back end on an adjustable bag shelf; modify checkstands to prevent
direct contact of the upper extremity body parts with hard and pointed
surfaces.
Administrative Controls:
a) Initiate a training awareness program to educate employees in the
hazards of repetitive motion and in proper work practices that can be
used to minimize the hazards, such as, avoid utilizing the pinch grip
when grasping items and lifting paper and plastic bags, use the power
grip instead. (See Item 1)
b) Implement a rotation proram for employees to jobs not associated
with repetitive motion.
c) Institute adequate mandatory rest breaks.
d) Implementation of an exercise program.
3) Institute a medical management program to monitor employees and
prevent early symptoms from progressing to injuries. Examples of some
of the items the program should include are: determining the extent
of injuries and illnesses; determining if injuries and illnesses are
caused or aggravated by work; educating all employees and supervisors
on early signs of injuries and disorders and encourage early
reporting instituting a formal, documented tracking and surveillance
program to monitor injury trends; providing adequate treatment of
ergonomic related cases; allowing time off for recovery after a
cumulative trauma disorder is diagnosed and/or after surgery
providing early physical evaluation of employees with CTD symptoms;
and providing utilitzation of physical therapists to develop and
implement conservative treatment measures upon detection of CTD
symptoms.
4) Obtain a full ergonomic evaluation by a qualified person of all
checkstands, cashier operations and work practices. He/she should
also assist in training employees and implementing the recommendation
he/she makes. The evaluation should include, but not be limited to:
a) Review of OSHA recommendations listed above;
b) Systematic evaluation with regard to existing and new work practices;
c) Systematic evaluation with regard to existing and new work station
designs;
d) Recommendation of engineering and administrative controls to reduce
or eliminate ergonomic stressors;
e) Assistance in implementing the recommendations;
f) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the controls implemented.
MULTI-STEP ABATEMENT
Step 1:
Submit to the Area Director a written plan of abatement outlining a
schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative
measures to control employees' exposure to musculoskeletal injuries.
The plan shall include, as a minimum, target dates for the following
actions:
1) Development and implementation of a comprehensive training program.
2) Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source.
3) Evaluation of control measure options.
4) Selection of optimum control measures.
5) Implementation of control measures.
6) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the control measures and, if
necessary, the alteration and/or substitution of other control
measures.
7) Assurance of effective performance of final control measures.
Sixty (60) day progress reports are required during the abatement
period.
Step 2:
Abatement shall be completed by the implementation of feasible
engineering and/or administrative controls and their effectiveness at
achieving compliance verified.

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 2, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 15, 1991

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 1, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 16, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 16, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 1, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Jun 16, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990

Issued

Jun 13, 1990

Abate by

Sep 17, 1990