OSHA Inspection: OAK TREE PACKING CORPORATION

Issued

Jun 27, 1994

Abate by

Feb 24, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,275 · Current $2,275

General-duty citation text

Multistep Abatements:   Step I   Obtain Services of
Trained Ergonomist .: 30 days
Step II  Written Plan........: 60 days
Step III Final Abatement.....: 9 months
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) FINISHING DEPARTMENT: EMPLOYEES PERFORMING CATCHING AND
FEEDING OPERATIONS ON GLUING MACHINE LINES G1 THROUGH G6 WERE
EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ERGONOMIC STRESSORS CAUSED BY REPETITIVE
MOTIONS OF THE HANDS, ARM AND WRIST WHICH ARE RESULTING IN
DISABLING CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS. NUMEROUS CASES OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME,
DEQUERVAIN'S SYNDROMES, TENDINITIS, NUMBNESS OF THE HANDS AND
ELBOWS ,AND  STRAINS OF THE HANDS, WRISTS, ARMS, ELBOWS AND
SHOULDERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE COMPANY'S OSHA FORM 200
REPEATEDLY DURING THE LAST 6 YEARS.
A FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT PROGRAM TO REDUCE
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS WOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
ELEMENTS:
1.IN ALL AFFECTED DEPARTMENTS:
A.ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
INSTITUTE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS THAT DEAL WITH; (1)TRAINING NEW
EMPLOYEES IN SAFE WORK TECHNIQUES INCLUDING LIFTING,WORKING WITH
MINIMUM STRESS ON THE BODY AND MINIMIZING THE APPLICATION OF
FORCES WITH THE FINGERS; (2) JOB ROTATION AND JOB ENHANCEMENT; (3)
ADEQUATE MANDATORY REST BREAKS, AND(4) IMPLEMENTATION OF AN
EXERCISE PROGRAM.
B.HIRING THE SERVICES OF A PROPERLY TRAINED ERGONOMIC
CONSULTANT TO: REVIEW OSHA AND ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE, PERFORM A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION WITH REGARD TO EXISTING
AND NEW WORK PRACTICES AND, WORK STATION DESIGN FOR ALL PLANT
OPERATIONS  WITH  CTD HAZARDS, RECOMMEND ENGINEERING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS ,ERGONOMICALLY ASSESS NEW EQUIPMENT OR
WORK STATION LAYOUT IN THE PLANNING STAGES BEFORE EXPOSING
EMPLOYEES TO POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE TRAUMA STRESSORS, EVALUATE
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CONTROLS IMPLEMENTED AND MAKE NEW
RECOMMENDATIONS IF NECESSARY. C.SET UP A MEDICAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO
MONITOR EMPLOYEES
AND PREVENT EARLY SYMPTOMS FROM PROGRESSING TO INJURIES. THIS
PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE: ENCOURAGING EARLY REPORTING OF INJURIES
AND DISORDERS, INSTITUTING A FORMAL , DOCUMENTED TRACKING AND
SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TO MONITOR INJURY TRENDS IN THE PLANT;
PROVIDING ADEQUATE TREATMENT OF ERGONOMIC RELATED CASES ,
INCLUDING NOT REASSIGNING EMPLOYEES TO A JOB UNTIL IT HAS BEEN
MODIFIED TO MINIMIZE THE HAZARDS THAT RESULTED IN THE INJURY; AND
AFTER SURGERY OR OTHER AGGRESSIVE INTERVENTION, ALLOW ADEQUATE
TIME OFF FOR RECOVERY.
D.TRAINING PROGRAM
A TRAINING PROGRAM IS NECESSARY TO ALERT EMPLOYEES ON THE
HAZARDS OF CTD'S AND CONTROLS AND WORK PRACTICES THAT CAN BE
USED TO MINIMIZE THE HAZARDS. THIS INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION OF A
WRITTEN TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS, ENGINEERS,
UNION REPRESENTATIVES, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND EMPLOYEES ON
THE NATURE , RANGE, CAUSES AND MEANS OF PREVENTION OF ERGONOMIC
RELATED DISORDERS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEW AND REASSIGNED
WORKERS SHOULD ALLOW DEMONSTRATIONS OF SAFE AND EFFECTIVE
METHODS OF PERFORMING THEIR JOB; FAMILIARIZE EMPLOYEES WITH
APPLICABLE SAFETY PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT; ALLOW THE NEW OR
REASSIGNED EMPLOYEE TO WORK WITH A SKILLED EMPLOYEE AND OR
PROVIDE ON THE JOB TRAINING FOR SPECIFIC JOBS; AND ALLOW NEW OR
REASSIGNED EMPLOYEES TO CONDITION THEIR MUSCLE/TENDON GROUPS
PRIOR TO WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO
BE SAFE AND CAUSE NO ADVERSE EFFECTS.
WORKERS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED IN THE BASICS OF BIOMECHANICS TO
MINIMIZE THE ERGONOMIC HAZARDS ASSOCIATED THEIR JOBS. THIS SHOULD
INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS; AVOIDANCE OF
POSTURES WHERE ELBOW IS ABOVE MID-TORSO, THE HAND IS ABOVE THE
SHOULDER, THE ARMS MUST REACH BEHIND THE TORSO; AVOIDANCE OF
WRIST POSTURES WHERE THERE IS: INWARD OR OUTWARD ROTATION WITH
BENT WRIST, EXCESSIVE PALMAR FLEXION OR EXTENSION, ULNAR OR
RADIAL DEVIATION PINCHING OR HIGH FINGER FORCES WITH ABOVE
POSTURES; AND AVOIDANCE OF MECHANICAL STRESS CONCENTRATIONS ON
THE ELBOWS, BASE OF THE PALM AND BACKS OF FINGERS.
2.SPECIFIC TASK ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS :
FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS FOR SPECIFIC
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS NOTED IN THE FINISHING DEPARTMENT MIGHT
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
3.LINE G-1 ; GLUING MACHINE;  FEEDING TASKS:
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS.
b.INSTALL LIFT TABLE IN AN ERGONOMICALLY ACCEPTABLE LOCATION
FOR THE LOADING OF FLAT STOCK.THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE EXCESS
REPEATED MOTIONS THAT RESULT WHEN THE OPERATOR MUST MOVE FLATS
FROM PALLET TO THE WOOD TABLE PRIOR TO PLACING THE FLATS INTO THE
GLUER'S FEED MECHANISM.
c.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
4.LINE G-1 : GLUING MACHINE:  CATCHING TASKS:
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.
f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVELY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.
g.INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAYLOADING AS
THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.
5.LINE G-2,: GLUING MACHINE ; FEEDING TASK
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS.
b.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
6.LINE G-2,: GLUING MACHINE ;CATCHING TASK
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.
f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVITY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.
g.INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAY
LOADING AS THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.
7.LINE G-3,: GLUING MACHINE; FEEDING  TASK
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS.
b.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
8.LINE G-3,: GLUING MACHINE; CATCHING TASK
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.
f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVITY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.
g.INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAY
LOADING AS THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.
9.LINE G-4,: GLUING MACHINE; FEEDING  TASK
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TOMAINTAIN A
NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS.
b.INSTALL LIFT TABLE IN AN ERGONOMICALLY ACCEPTABLE LOCATION
FOR THE LOADING OF FLAT STOCK. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE EXCESS
REPEATED MOTIONS THAT RESULT WHEN THE OPERATOR MUST MOVE FLATS
FROM PALLET TO THE WOOD TABLE PRIOR TO PLACING THE FLATS INTO THE
GLUER'S FEED MECHANISM.
c.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
10.LINE G-4,: GLUING MACHINE ;CATCHING TASK
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.
f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVITY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.
g.INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAY
LOADING AS THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.
11.LINE G-5,: GLUING MACHINE ;FEEDING  TASK
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS AND
TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE WRIST ROLLING ACTION THAT IS
REQUIRED TO ALIGN THE STACK ON THE BOTTOM FEED GLUING MACHINES.
b.INSTALL LIFT TABLE IN AN ERGONOMICALLY ACCEPTABLE LOCATION
FOR THE LOADING OF FLAT STOCK. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE EXCESS
REPEATED MOTIONS THAT RESULT WHEN THE OPERATOR  MUST MOVE FLATS
FROM PALLET TO THE WOOD TABLE PRIOR TO PLACING THE FLATS INTO THE
GLUER'S FEED MECHANISM.
c.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
12.LINE G-5,: GLUING MACHINE; CATCHING TASK
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.
f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVITY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.     g.INVESTIGATE THE
FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAY
LOADING AS THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.
13.LINE G-6,: GLUING MACHINE ; FEEDING  TASK
a.REDESIGN MACHINE FEEDING MECHANISM TO ALLOW OPERATOR TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE PERFORMING REPETITIVE MOTIONS AND
TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE WRIST ROLLING ACTION THAT IS
REQUIRED TO ALIGN THE STACK ON THE BOTTOM FEED GLUING MACHINES.
b.INSTALL LIFT TABLE IN AN ERGONOMICALLY ACCEPTABLE LOCATION
FOR THE LOADING OF FLAT STOCK.  THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE EXCESS
REPEATED MOTIONS THAT RESULT WHEN THE OPERATOR MUST MOVE FLATS
FROM PALLET TO THE WOOD TABLE PRIOR TO PLACING THE FLATS INTO THE
GLUER'S FEED MECHANISM.
c.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES FOR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
14.LINE G-6,: GLUING MACHINE ; CATCHING TASK
a.REDESIGN EXITING CONVEYOR TO ALIGN FOLDED FLATS IN SUCH A
MANNER TO ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE
PERFORMING REPETITIVE GRASPING MOTIONS.
b.REALIGN/REPOSITION CARTON HOLDING STANDS TO ALLOW USER TO
MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL WRIST WHILE LOADING FLATS INTO CARTONS.
c.REALIGN WORK SURFACES FOR EASIER ACCESS WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
REACHES (RIGHT SIDE AS VIEWED FROM FEED END OF MACHINE.)
d.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE PINCH
GRASP RANGES OR THE TYPICAL TYPE OF GRASP USED TO PICK UP A STACK
OF "FLATS" AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
WITHIN THIS RANGE.
e.HAVE A QUALIFIED ERGONOMIST DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE MACHINE
RATES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF RUNS (IE; LARGE,AVERAGE AND SMALL FLAT
SIZES AND) THAT WILL PREVENT THE CREEP STRAIN FROM APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL CUMULATIVE STRAIN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AN
ALTERNATING RATE THAT INCLUDES PERIODS OF RELATIVELY FAST PERIODS
FOLLOWED BY A SLOWER (REST/RECOVERY) LINE RATE WHICH MAY BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN A SINGLE FIXED RATE.     f.EDUCATE THE SETUP CREW AND THE
CATCHING TEAMS AS TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO THE MACHINE RATES AND ACTIVITY SOLICIT
FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTS RELATED TO ANY RATE CHANGE.
g.INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF TRAY
LOADING AS THIS METHOD DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE WRIST DEVIATIONS,
AND GRASPING REPETITIONS.

Issued

Jun 27, 1994

Abate by

Feb 24, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $1,300

Issued

Jun 27, 1994

Abate by

Jun 30, 1994