OSHA Inspection: ADAM WUEST CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 30, 1991

Abate by

Aug 25, 1993

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,000 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:
(a)  Are high risk factors for the development of back injuries while
performing job tasks in the shipping, warehousing and chute departments
without an effective ergonomics program having been implemented, such as bu t
not limited to;
1.   A written ergonomics program  established, endorsed and advocated
by the highest levels of management. It must outline the employer's
written ergonomics program and must be communicated to all personnel
affected.
2.   A comprehensive worksite analysis  conducted to identify all
operations which present significant ergonomic risk factors and develo p
a written plan to reduce ergonomic hazards through the implementation
of appropriate engineering, work practice and administrative controls
for implementation
3.   Training of employees about the ergonomic hazards to which they
may be exposed so that they can actively and effectively participate i n
their own protection. The training program must discuss the potential
risk of ergonomic illness and injuries, their means of prevention, and
the steps which should be followed to receive proper medical evaluatio n
and treatment.  The training must also convey proper job-specific work
practices and procedures. The training in the use of safe and efficien t
techniques must be performed by an experienced supervisory person who
has received extensive training in ergonomics.
Methods of reducing or eliminating the ergonomic risks through engineering
and/or administrative controls may include but are not limited to:
1.   Provision of a tilt table so that the mattresses can be pushed
off of the conveyor onto another means of transportation.
2.   Provision of a roller system that would reduce the need for
employees to lift the mattresses.
3.   Provision of a forklift attachment that would permit the movement
by forklift of the carts, which usually contain 8-10 mattresses, to th e
warehousing area.
4.   Provision of lifting devices that would eliminate or reduce the
stress of manual stacking and manual removal of the mattresses.
5.   Provision of an increased number of employees assigned to the
above areas so that full-sized mattresses and larger be manually
handled by two or more employees.
6.   Provision of at least two employees to stack  mattresses when the
stack height exceeds four feet above the floor level.
7.   Increasing the width of aisleways between the stock that would
allow lifting equipment to operate without limitations in the warehous -
ing area.
ing area.

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 21, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 11, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,450

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $3,500

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 11, 1991

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Nov 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Nov 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Nov 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 28, 1991

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 21, 1991

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 21, 1991

Issued

Oct 3, 1991

Abate by

Oct 21, 1991