OSHA Inspection: THE LINEN CENTER

Issued

Jun 21, 1989

Abate by

Sep 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $50 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
unacceptable lifting and trauma inducing exertion forces resulting in
neuro-musculo-skeletal injury:
a) Stockroom/Loading "Dock" Area: Employees were observed lifting and
carrying boxes of outdated or "old" stock from the stock storage area
to the "loading dock" area (truckbed) located at a distance of
approximately fifteen feet. Also observed were employees unloading
the truck carrying, pushing, adn kicking the boxes from the "loading
dock" area to the stock storage area. Employees were also observed
moving boxes within the stock storage area in order to receive the
new stock. The evaluation of these manual lifting tasks indicates
that employees are exposed to forces identified as hazardous and
that exceed the action limits specified under the NIOSH lifting
guide.
General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include,
but are not limited to, the following:
1) Select and train workers on proper lifting technique following
selection procedures.
2) Adjust horizontal and vertical load distances from the body.
3) Use 2 person lift for heavy objects.
4) Use a ramp either with rollers or not in order to facilitate loading
the truck more easily.
5) Physical Assessment of workers; strength testing, preventative
exercises, and aerobic capacity testing.
ABATEMENT NORMALLY WILL BE MULTI-STEP AS FOLLOWS:
STEP 1: Effective administrative protection such as but not limited to
using 2 person lift for heavy objects, job rotation, etc., shall
be provided as an interim measure until feasible administrative
controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to
reduce employee exposure to a nominal risk.
STEP 2: 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 injury due to
manual lifting tasks. Administrative/engineering controls to
reduce musculoskeletal injuries include but are not limited to
job redesign, reduction of the horizontal and vertical load
distance from the body, reduction of the lifting frequency, or
weight and use of mechanical lifting aids. This plan shall
include at a minimum, target dates for the following actions
which must be consistent with the dates required by this
citation.
STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon
verification of their effectiveness in reducing the occurence
of musculoskeletal injuries.

Issued

Jun 21, 1989

Abate by

Sep 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jun 21, 1989

Abate by

Sep 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $50 Reduced