OSHA Inspection: EPHRATA MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Issued

1989-08-18 00:00:00

Abate by

1993-11-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $560.00 · Current $400.00 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
increase risk of cumulative trauma disorder(s)  from the tasks that they
were performing and administrative or engineering controls were not
provided:
a) Molding Area - Molders carrying sand molds from molding machine to
pouring area, molds weighed 85 and 65 pounds, and the evaluation of
this manual lifting task indicates that employeesare exposed to an
increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries based upon studies of
populations exposed to similar lifting conditions, on or about May
17, 1989.
b) Molding Area - Molders shoveling sand into flask to make a mold on
machine and the evaluation of this manual lifting task indicates that
employees are exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal
injuries based upon studies of populations exposed to similar lifting
conditions.  The injury and illness records for 1988 and 1987
documented a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries, on or about May
17, 1989.
c) Molding Area - Employees shifting molds out of the way after the
molds were poured with iron and the evaluation of this manual
lifting task indicates that employees are exposed to an increased
risk of musculoskeletal injuries based upon studies of populations
exposed to similar lifting conditions.  The injury and illness
records for 1988 and 1987 documented a pattern of musculoskeletal
injuries, on or about May 17, 1989.
d) Molding Area - Employees shifting the weights from poured molds to
molds to be poured conditions occurs on both one man job(s) and the
two man job(s) and the evaluation of this manual lifting task
indicates that employees are exposed to an increased risk of
musculoskeletal injuries based upon studies ofpopulations exposed
to similar lifting conditions.  The injury and illness records for
1988 and 1987 documented a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries, on
or about May 17, 1989.
e) Molding Area - The employees who dump the molds on the pouring floor
and the evaluation of this manual lifting task indicates that
employees are exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal
injuries based upon studies of populations exposed to similar lifting
conditions.  The injury and illness records for 1988 and 1987
documented a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries.
f) Wheelabrator Area - Employee lifting castings out of the wheelabrator
and into cart/barrels, weighing from 35 to 55 pounds, and the
evaluation of this manual lifting task indicates that employees are
are exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries based
upon studies of populations exposed to similar lifting conditions.
The injury and illness records for 1988 and 1987 documents a pattern
of musculoskeletal injuries, on or about May 17, 1989.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is:
Instance A - The installation of a conveyor system to eliminate the
manual handling of sand molds.
Instance B - The installation of a sand handling system.
Instance C - Improved layout of the mold pouring area to eliminate or
significantly reduce the need for shifting or by the installation of
a conveyor system.
Instance D - Any combination of the four suggestions listed below:
1) By increasing the heights at which the weights must be shifted.
2) By the installation of a monorail system.
3) By placing handles on the weights.
4) By the installation of a mold conveyor system.
Instance E - The use of a mechanized shake-out system.
Instance F - The installation of a hoist
STEP #1
Effective administrative protection, such as employee training, physical
assessment, job rotation, etc. shall be provided as an interim
protective measure until feasible engineering or permanent
administrative measures to control employee injury due to manual lifting
tasks.  Engineering controls to reduce musculoskeletal stresses 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.
1) Evaluation of the conditions, locations and manual lifting activities
that the employees are performing at the onset of musculoskeletal
injuries;
2) Evaluation of applicable control measures(s).
3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control
measures(s).
ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH PARTICULAR
USE BY A PERSON TRAINED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE CONDITIONS
CAUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS. NINETY (90) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS
ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.
STEP #3
Develop a rehabilitation program for injured workers.  The program is
expected to include exercise, building stamina, training in safe lifting
techniques, work conditioning and demonstration that the worker is able
to resume work.
STEP #4
Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible
engineering and/or administrative controls.  Where the lifting task
analysis in NIOSH's Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting has been
utilized, compliance will be achieved when the calculated action level
is met.