OSHA Inspection: OSHKOSH B'GOSH

Issued

Feb 28, 1990

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $340 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8880

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 the following employees
were exposed to cumulative trauma stressors of the hands, wrists, arms,
neck and back:
a) Sewing machine operators and safety stitch operators regularly
performing small parts and midassembly operations; i.e., zippers,
set-in pockets, nail bags, banding, straps, cuffs and collars.
b) Utility people and instructors performing the same operations on an
irregular basis.
Feasible methods of abatement for these instances include, but are not
limited to the following:
-Establish a comprehensive ergonomic control program, including
engineering and administrative control, and close medical surveillance,
as described at the end of the citation.
-Replace current set-in pocket assembly with automated pocket-to-facing
stitcher and folder.
-Pre-align pocket and facing pieces as a separate operation to eliminate
some pinch grip reaching by operator.
-Install automatic cutting device on banding machines to reduce operator
use of scissors.
-Redesign off-feed part of work station using chute or overhang to
collect finished pieces to reduce operator twisting motion (back and
arms).
-Reduce tolerance allowances for all curved seam edges.
-Incorporate an automated collar band feeder to reduce worker pinch grip
activities while constructing collars and cuffs.
-Incorpate an automated collar/cuff folder, or use a folding die to
reduce worker manipulations that use extended fingers with force and
pinch grip.
-Incorporate edge sensors for topstitch operations.
-Provide specialized training to sewing machine operators, saftey stitch
operators, instructors, and utility workers; provide necessary time for
work hardening and warm-up exercises for job activities involving
significant cumulative trauma stressors.
-Investiage sit/stand options.
-Relocate/reposition the sewing machines so that the worker can sit
erect and perform his/her task. If the sewing machine is canted to the
right or left, the machine operator could center his/her shoulders,
neck, and head to be able to observe the active sewing area. As an
alternative, if mirrors were placed on supports at the sides of the
sewing machine, the operator could observe the active sewing area by
looking into the mirror.
-Change the angle of incline of the sewing machine by moving the
neck-end backwards and angling the active sewing area upward, so that
each worker can operate the machine while sitting with an erect
position.
-Pad the edges of all sewing work stations subject to machine operators
resting or supporting forearms.
-Change foot controls connected to mechanical rod to an electric switch
which can be moved to fit variable employee positions, leg lengths, or
used as knee control. This will allow additional use of swivel chairs.
-Redesign rolling stock tables with shelf overhang or folding top to
fit better into employee work station to reduce twisting action
occurring when employees reach for stock or stack finished pieces from
immobile stool position.

Issued

Feb 28, 1990

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $340 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 service workers were
exposed to cumulative trauma stressors of the neck and back while
lifting and transferring garment bundles throughout the plant:
a) Service workers.
Feasible methods of abatement for this instance include, but are not
limited to the following:
-Establish a comprehensive ergonomic control program, including
engineering an administrative control, and close medical surveillance,
as discribed at the end of the citation.
-Provide lifting aids (e.g., slings, scissors lifts) for large bundles
of heavy garments.
-Reduce bundle sizes of heavy garments.
-Assure that the allowed lifting weights found in the National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) "Work Practices Guide for
Manual Lifting", March 1981, are followed.

Issued

Feb 28, 1990

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $340 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8880

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 fellers were exposed to
cumulative trauma stressors to the upper extremities; hands, wrists,
and arms, and neck and back:
a) Fellers.
Feasible methods of abatement for this instance include, but are not
limited to, the following:
-Establish a comprehensive ergonomic control program, including
engineering and administrative control, and close medical surveillance,
as described at the end of the citation.
-Redesign the feller work station with some tilt to the right and back
to allow the feller to operate with a neutral posture. Maintain the oil
reservior at a lower level or reposition it more suitably to the tilt
to eliminate the oil spill problem.
-Investigate sit/stand options.
-Relocate/reposition the sewing machines so that the worker can sit
erect and perform his/her tasks. If the sewing machine is canted to the
right or left, the machine operator could center his/her shoulders,
neck and head to be able to observe the active sewing area. As an
alternative, if mirrors were placd on supports at the sides of the
sewing machine, the operator could observe the active sewing area by
looking into the mirror.
-Change foot controls connected to mechanical rod to an electric switch
which can be moved to fit variable employee positions, leg lengths, or
used as knee control. This will allow additional use of swivel chairs.
-Redesign rolling stock tables with shelf overhang or folding top to fit
better into employee work station to reduce twisting action occurring
when employees reach for stock or stack finished pieces from immobile
stool position.
-Pad the edges of all sewing work stations subject to machine operators
resting or supportng forearms.
(NOTE: Fellers operate a double-needle safety stitch type machine
called a feller which rolls and stitches a seam edge - standard
blue jean seams.)

Issued

Feb 28, 1990

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $340 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8880

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 examiners and auditors
were exposed to cumulative trauma stressors to the hand and wrists,
shoulders and back:
a) Examiners and Auditors.
Feasible methods of abatement for this instance include, but are not
limited to, the following:
-Establish a comprehensive ergonomic control program, including
engineering and administrative control, and close medical surveillance,
as described at the end of the citation.
-Redesign and provide button hook handle to redistribute forces over a
side area of the palm. Angle hook end in such a way as to reduce the
flexed position of the wrist during pull.
-Utilize and work device (e.g., broad bar) to spread forces over the
palm while fastening snaps during the examining operation.
-Explore the use of viscoelastic or other flexible materials for tool
handles. Flexible materials redistribute the force of grip.
-Reduce the static workload on the hand by restricting constant holding
of scissors, even when using button hook. Locate work holder for tools
in front central part of work station.
-Slant the work table, adjusting the height to allow the worker to
assume an upright neck and back position, neutral posture.
-Investigate sit/stand options.

Issued

Feb 28, 1990

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $340 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8880

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Saftey 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 hemmers, particulaly leg
hemmers, were exposed tlo cumulative trauma stressors to the hands and
wrists, shoulders neck and back:
a) Hemmers
Feasible methods of abatement for this instance include, but are not
limited to, the following:
-Establish a comprehensive ergonomic control program, including
engineering and administrative control, and close medical surveillance,
as described at the end of the citation.
-Design and provide a padded arm rest to reduce passive work strain.
-Investigate sit/stand options.
-Relocate/reposition the sewing machines so that the worker can sit
erect and perform his/her tasks. If the sewing machine is canted to the
right or left, the machine operator could center his/her shoulders,
neck, and head to be able to observe the active sewing area. As an
alternative, if mirrors were placed on supports at the sides of the
sewing machine, the operator could observe the active sewing area by
looking into the mirror.
-Pad the edges of all sewing work stations subject to machine operators
resting or supporting forearms.
-Change foot controls connected to mechanical rod to an electric switch
which can be moved to fit variable employee positions, leg lengths, or
used as knee control. This will allow additional use of swivel chairs.
-Design and provide a device or mockup to support work during the
hemming operation.