OSHA Inspection: KINRO, INC.

Issued

Nov 21, 1989

Abate by

Dec 22, 1989

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $810

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) The hazards of cumulative trauma disease (CTD) of the hands,
wrists, elbows, and shoulders. The hazards were discovered when the work
ers used hand-held rollers to press splines into screen frame grooves.
The effects of the work have included diagnosed cases of Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome and dramatically increasd worker problems with the upper
extremities.
The stressors effecting the workers can be significally reduced by
a program that includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Assure that the proper spline material is stocked, so that
the workers can use minimum force when putting splines into screen
grooves.
2. Establish an ongoing quality control program to assure that
purchase frame, spline and screen materials meet their manufactures'
specifications, and that delivered materials that do not meet quality
control standards are to be returned to suppliers and not used.
3. Purchase and supply tools that will allow workers to roll
splines into frames with their hands and wrists held in neutral
positions. Workers generally report preferences for tool handles that
are straight cylinders, and that are one and one-quarter inches to
one and one-half inches in diameter. Providing a wide cuff at the
base of the handle will allow the workers to press down by using less
of a hand grip on the handle.
4. Establish a training program that will instruct workers
a. setting up the worktable at the best height for the worker.
b. selection of tools that best fit the worker's hand.
c. The minimum force, ergonomically least stressful technique to
be used in building screens.
Make videotapes that show the accepted techniques for doing
a,b, and c.
5.  Follow up on the training program:
a. Monitor the workers performance.
b. Instruct the workers in recognizing ergonomically stress
full postures.
c. Retrain workers, as needed, to maintain workers by using
the established technique for building screens.
6.  Provide worktable and/or platforms that are height-adjustable
to fit workers.
An approximate table height for standing workers,
based upon oneinch heels, and heel-to-elbow height for male and
female workers, is shown in the table below.
TABLE HEIGHTS-STANDING MALE AND FELMALE WORKERS
WOMEN              MALE
PERCENTILE                5        50       95        5       50      95
HEIGHT                   61        65       68        65      70      74
FLOOR-ELBOW HEIGHT     37.5      40.5     43.5      40.5      44    44.5
6. The stresses placed on workers backs, shoulders, arms, and wrist
are directly related to the distane reached while pushing the spline
into
the screen and mounted on a turntable, as the worker finished putting
the spline into a side, the table could be rotated forward 90 degress.
This would greatly reduce the streses on the worker. An alternative
method would be held down by pins outside the corners of the frame. The
worker can walk forward as the spline is inserted. A complete walk
around the frame would complete the screen. For large screens, an
alternative
method might be to use two workers, each putting a
continuous
spline into two sides of the screen. when the first worker got to a
the end of his/her second side, the second worker could take over and
complete the spline insertion on the third and fourth screen sides.
7. Establish a worker-reporting program that is open and
conductive
to workers discussing their problems with pain, and their
suggestions
for changing the job to lessen psysicological and anatomical
strain on the workers.

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Jan 19, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Nov 18, 1989

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Nov 14, 1989

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Nov 1, 1989

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Nov 1, 1989

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Oct 16, 1989

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Nov 18, 1989

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630

Issued

Oct 13, 1989

Abate by

Oct 25, 1989

Issued

Oct 12, 1989

Abate by

Jan 19, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $630