OSHA Inspection: SUREFIT PRODUCTS COMPANY

Issued

Feb 9, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Apr 13, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 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 the hazards of repetitive manual lifting and other strenuous
operations resulting in stresses that had caused, were causing, or were
likely to cause musculoskeletal injuries:
a)  Shipping Department - The manual material handling tasks
involving the lifting of boxes containing cut work exposed
employees to significant risk of injury due to the weight
and configuration of the boxes.  The injury records for 1989,
1990 and 1991 document a pattern of such injuries, on or
about August 12, 1991.
b)  Finishing Department - The manual material handling tasks
involving the lifting and carrying of fabric rolls exposed
employees to moderate risks of injury due to the weight and
configuration of the rolls.  The injury records for 1989,
1990 and 1991 document a pattern of such injuries, on or
about August 12, 1991.
c)  Knitting Department - The manual material handling tasks
involving the lifting and carrying of fabric rolls exposed
employees to moderate risks of injury due to the weight and
configuration of the rolls.  The injury records for 1989,
1990 and 1991 document a pattern of such injuries, on or
about August 12, 1991.
d)  Cutting Department - The manual material handling tasks
involving the lifting and carrying of fabric rolls exposed
employees to moderate risks of injury due to the weight and
configuration of the rolls.  The injury records for 1989,
1990 and 1991 document a pattern of such injuries, on or
about August 12, 1991.
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
manual lifting hazards 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 through a
mechanism such as a safety committee.
(2)  Medical management which includes accurate recordkeeping
of manual lifting injuries.  The program should address
recognition, evaluation, treatment, and referral of lifting
cases.  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 manual material handling, and how
to prevent lifting injuries.  A supervisors' training
program should also be implemented to allow recognition of
manual lifting hazards, and to reinforce the employer's
ergonomic program.
(4)  Hazard prevention and control which includes
engineering, work practices and administrative controls.
(a)  Administrative controls are implemented which reduce
the duration, frequency, and severity of exposure to manual
lifting hazards.  These controls may include job rotation,
reduction of repetitions, multiple person lifts, and pre-
ventative maintenance of related equipment.
(b)  Work practice controls are implemented which include
proper work techniques, new employee conditioning, proper
placement of loads, and reduction of weight lifted.
(c)  Engineering controls are designed by a qualified
ergonomist and may include work station redesign, tool and
handle redesign, and use of mechanical lifting aids.  The
goal of this program should be to make the job fit the
person.
Step - 1 - Implementation of an ergonomics program for worksite
analysis, medical management, and training and education, as detailed
in items 1-3, above.
Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of the
administrative, work practice and engineering controls as detailed in
items 4(a) - 4(c).
ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH PARTICULAR
USE BY A PERSON TRAINED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE CONDITIONS WHICH
CAUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS.  SIXTY (60) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE
REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.
Step 3 - Implementation of administrative, work practices and engineer-
ing controls as described in items 4(a) - 4(c), above.

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 21, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,380 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Dec 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Dec 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $3,150 · Current $1,260 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Penalty

Initial $9,450 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Feb 11, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 9, 1992

Issued

Feb 6, 1992

Abate by

Mar 13, 1993