OSHA Inspection: EST COMPANY, DIVISION OF LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPOR

Issued

Oct 17, 1991

Abate by

Oct 16, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

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:
(a)  Employees were exposed to the unacceptable risk of cumulative
trauma disorder from performing die casting, quality control
inspecting, and trimming - polishing operations in Departments #52,
53, 56 and 61.  Employees were exposed to the increased risk of back
strains and sprains, and hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder trauma from
performing manual repetitive operations in the processing of aluminum
die castings.  The employer failed to identify and evaluate these
undesireable ergonomic conditions and failed to utilize feasible
engineering and administrative controls to minimize ergonomic stress
to employees.
The workplace ergonomic hazards shall be controlled and
ergonomic stressors reduced by a program which includes the following
elements:
(1)  EROGONOMICS PROGRAM -
Establish an ergonomic program for employees in the above mentioned
departments that would include evaluting their jobs to identify
musculskeletal stressors (job stress analysis).  A source for these
evaluations could include assistance of a consultant, plant personnel
and worker questionaires.  Another element of the ergonomics program
is formulating control measures to reduce musculoskeletal stressors
to employees.  Suggested controls are proposed herein.  Another
element of the ergonomics program is evaluation of the control
measures to determine effectiveness.  This could be performed by
employee feedback and injury and illness data.  An example would be
evaluation of air tests to determine if they require excessive wrist
angulation.  Worker feedback would result in a selection of a "best
tool" for the job.
(2)  WORKER TRAINING AND EDUCATION -
Establish a worker training and information program to inform workers
about lifting - related stresses, posture - related stresses and
cululative trauma disease.  This program should be addressed to new
workers, injured workers and to long-term workers who need to maintain
and apply the knowledge.  Employees should be trained in the
recognition of signs and symptoms of repetitive motion disease,
vibration syndrome, back disorders and instructed to report symptoms
as early as possible to the plant medical department.
(3)  WORKPLACE MEDICAL PROGRAM -
Establish a plant medical intervention program to detect the incidence
of cumulative trauma disease and prevent its progress.  Use of medical
personnel familiar with the employer's operations is essential.  A
medically appropriate approach would be a work hardening program for
new employees placed into high risk jobs and an evaluation period
to monitor progress.  Establish a medically apporpriate treatment
prgram for injured workers to include medical treatment, placement
into low risk jobs, work hardening programs, and follow-up evaluations
to determine effectiveness.  Employees should be alerted to the
minimal effectiveness of surgical interventions, especially when
returning to a job identified as being a high risk, and to the use
and limitations of wristbands or splints.
(4)  SPECIFIC ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS -
(A)  Feasible engineering controls for the die casters include,
but are not limited to:
(i)  the use of an assist device (manipulator) to remove castings
from the die.
(ii)  reduce air pressure of the hand die sprayer
(iii)  install automated sprayers at the die casters
(iv)  install non-skid platform surfaces at the die casters
(v)  reduce reach height for machine controls at the band saw
locations at the die casting stations.
(B)  Feasible engineering controls at the Quality Control
Inspector/Packer locations include, but are not limited to:
(i)  install automatic height adjusting equipment for
loading/unloading skids
(ii)  use palletainers with foldable sides
(iii)  institute a vibration analysis program for air tools that
should include:
(a)  maintaing air tools according to manufacturer's
recommendations
(b)  selecting the brand of hand air tools that have a
minimum of vibration
(c)  use vibration absorption or damping material to
eliminate vibration transmission form the hand grips or
handles of air tools.
(C)  Feasible engineering controls at the Trimmer/Finisher locations
include, but are not limited to:
(i)  adjustable height work stations
(ii)  use of palletainers with foldable sides
(iii)  use of automatic height adjusting equipment for
loading/unloading skids
(iv)  institute an air tool vibration analysis program as
described above.
(5)  ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS -
Feasible administrative controls at all locations include, but are
not limited to:
(i)  the use of rotation among employees to establish the goal
of eliminating the overstressing of any one set of muscle groups for
extended periods of time
(ii)  allowing employees more time to do the job
(iii)  establish a program of die redesign that would reduce or
eliminate the need for ergonomically stressful finishing opertions.
(iv)  automate the remaining hand ladle operations
(v)  reengineer or relocated trim die control devices to eliminate
excessive reaching.