OSHA Inspection: PATHMARK STORES, INC.

Issued

Aug 6, 1990

Abate by

Jul 1, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 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 employee(s) in that employee(s) were
required to perform tasks involving repetitive motions resulting in
stresses that had caused, were causing, or were likely to cause
cumulative trauma disorders:
a) Workplace; Pathmark of New Hyde Park, NY, Front End, Cashier
Checkstand; on or about 2/6/90 to 5/25/90; Employee(s) who
repeatedly perform checkout operations at checkstand(s) (scan & bag
and scan & throw) which involves frequent repetitive tasks of
reaching, scanning, keying, weighing, baggins and lifting of
groceries, requiring various hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck
and back postures, were exposed to ergonomic stresses resulting
from high finger or grip forces, awkward body postures such as
flexed and extended wrists, frequent reaches at excessive distances
and frequent torso flexations with weighted objects which are likely
to result in upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (UECTD) and
cumulative low back injuries.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is the implementation of an ergonomics management
program consisting of the following four elements:
1) Worksite analysis to recognize and identify existing cumulative
trauma disorders in the workplace. This analysis should include
development and use of an ergonomic checklist and employee
questionnaire. Periodic surveys of the worksite shall be conducted
at least annually to evaluate work practices and engineering
controls. Employee participation in the ergonomic program should
be encouraged.
2) Medical management which includes accurate recordkeeping of CTDs.
The program should address early recognition, evaluation and
referral of CTD cases, and should include conservative treatment
and conservative return to work. Systematic worksite review by the
medical team should also be included in the program.
3) Training and education for exposed employees, including methods to
evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Re-training should be
done annually, or as operations change. Training should address
hazards associated with the job, the risks of developing CTDs,
symptoms of exposure, and how to prevent the occurrence of CTD. A
supervisors' training program should also be implemented to allow
recognition of the signs of CTDs and to reinforce the employer's
ergonomic program.
4) Hazard prevention and control which includes engineering, work
practice and administrative controls where relevant. Examples of
engineering, work practices and administrative controls applicable
to this workplace include:
A. Known Hazard
Utilization of a pinch grip when placing objects on the scale. The
development of carpal tunnel syndrome and sore hands it consistent
with the utilization of a pinch grip while exerting force.
Known Control
Train employees to utilize a two handed power grip when handling
heavy objects. When handling lighter objects utilize a one hand
power grip rather than a pinch grip.
B. Known Hazard
Highly repetitive grasping of items frequently using a pinch grip,
with flexion of the right wrist while pulling groceries across the
scanner. The development of carpal tunnel syndrome and sore hands is
consistent with frequent gripping and wrist deviations.
Known Control
1) Educate the operator on the importance of maintaining a neutral wrist
while performing repetitive motions.
2) Educate the operator on the importance of utilizing a power grip
rather than a pinch grip when scanning groceries.
3) Redesign the check-out stand to allow the operator to face the
scanner. This will allow the operator to pull objects across the
scanner while maintaining a neutral wrist.
4) Train the operator to maintain a neutral wrist while pulling
groceries sideways across the scanner.
5) Educate the operator to manually key in items rather than scanning
them three of four times. Keying in multiple purchases of a single
item will also reduce repetitive motions.
C. Known Hazard
Frequent reaches and bending over at the waist in excess of 6 degrees
to 10 degrees from vertical with the arms extended out in front of
the body to pick groceries from the customer side of the conveyor.
Frequent reaches and torso flexion are consisten with the
development of shoulder irritation and low back problems.
Known Control
1) Install a guide along the wall of the conveyor closest to the
customer to direct the groceries closer to the cashier.
2) Remove the metal plates in front and back of the scanner allowing
the groceries and cashier to get close to the scanner. A standard
reach of 16 to 17 inches is recommended.
3) Reduce the size of the scanner allowing the cashier to get closer
to the groceries.
4) Position the cashier in front of the scanner rather then to the
side, thus reducing reach distances.
5) Educate the operator on the importance of not performing repetitive
reaches and torso twists while picking up groceries.
6) For shorter cashiers provide work platforms which will elevate them
and bring them closer to the groceries, scales and keyboards.
7) Relocate the automatic eye, which stops the conveyor, closer to the
scanner bringing the groceries onto the metal plate and closer to the
cashier.
8) Educate the operator not to reach for items to be scanned, allowing
the conveyor belt to bring the items to the scanner.
9) Decrease the size of the bag holding platform to the minimum width
needed. This will bring the bagger closer to the groceries and reduce
the reach distance.
10) Cut out the right side of the bagging platform allowing the cashier
to stand closer to the groceries. Only one bag will be utilized but
the cashiers reach distance will be decreased.
11) Cut out the middle section of the bagging platform and move the
two bagging holders out to the sides. This will allow the cashier
to stand in the middle of the bag holders and be closer to the
groceries.
D. Known Hazard
Utilization of a one handed pinch grip when lifting up the plastic
bag and twisting and bending of the torso while placing it on the
conveyor or handing the bag to the customer. Reaching behind the
body with the left arm to place the bag on the conveyor or pass to
the customer. Pinch grips when lifting heavy objects is consistent
with the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Excessive reaches and
twisting while lifting weighted objects is consistent with the
development of low back problems and shoulder irritation.
Known Controls.
1) Educate the employees on the importance of utilizing a two handed
power grip when lifting plastic bags. One hand on top and one on the
bottom may be desirable.
2) Educate the employees on the importance of utilizing proper lifting
techniques at all times.
.
3) The cashier should be instructed on how to properly grip the bags,
keeping the horizontal distance between the bag and the body as low
as possible, and to avoid twisting at all times while handling
grocery bags and other heavy items. Gripping the bag close to the
body while turning the feet and not the torso will reduce the
twisting hazard considerably.
E. Known Hazard
Reaching above shoulder height, with the arms extended out in front
of the body, and bending over at the waist in excess of 6 degrees to
10 degrees from the vertical while placing objects on the produce
scale. Reaches with weighted objects and torso flexion while the
arms are extended out away from teh body is consistent with the
development of arm and shoulder injury and low back pain.
Known Control
1) Weigh and price all produce in the produce department rather than
require the cashier to perform this step at the checkstand.
2) Locate the scale in front of the cashier with a minimal reach of 17
inches forward, lower the scal so the cashier does not raise the
hands above shoulder height and keep the reach distance to the
sides to a minimum.
F. Known Hazard
Excessive reach out and behind the body with left arm to push
groceries onto the conveyor which removes them to the bagging area.
Repetitive reaches out behind the body is consistent with the
development of arm and shoulder injuries and low back problems.
Known Control
1) Extend the voneyor closer to the cashier to eliminate reaches behind
the body.
2) Educate the operator to turn the body around, by moving the feet,
and place the objects onto the conveyor without reaching behind the
body.
G. Known Hazard
Excessive reaches for groceries, keyboards, and scales when shorter
people are utilizing cashier stands.
Known Control
Provide elevated work platforms for shorter employee(s) that will
position them to optimum working heights.
H. Elevation of the left elbow up and out away from the body when
groceries are backed up on the conveyor. Elbow elevation and
extension away from the body is consistent with the development of
shoulder and arm pain.
Known Control
Educate the operator not to stack objects adjacent to the scanner
causing the elevation of the elbow and shoulder.
I. Maintenance of a static torso flexed posture during placement
of items in plastic bags. Torso flexion is consistent with low
back problems.
Known Control
1) Provide an adjustable bagging platform that can be moved to fit the
cashiers anthropometry.
2) Educate the cashiers on the importance of maintaining a neutral back
and on the utilization of the  adjustable bagging platforms.
J. Known Hazard
The cashier stands in a relatively static posture for long periods.
Static standing postures can cause generalized fatigue of the feet,
leg and back muscles which is a principle cause of musculoskeletal
injury.
Known Control
Provide sit/stand stools or lean bars which will allow the cashiers
the option to sit or stand rather than maintaining the same posture
for the entire shift. Anti-fatigue mats improve blood circulation and
reduce static pooling.
MULTI-STEP ABATEMENT
Step 1 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the
Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of
engineering and/or administrative measures to control employees
exposures to musculoskeletal injuries when manual material hand
ling. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for
the following actions which must be consistent with the
abatement dates required by this citation:
(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.
Forty-five day progress reports are required during the
abatement period.
Step 2 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon
verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.