OSHA Inspection: GRANITE CITY DIV., NATIONAL STEEL CORP.

Issued

Sep 2, 1994

Abate by

Oct 7, 1994

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $4,250

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment
which was free
from recognized hazards that had caused or could have caused death or
serious physical harm
to his employees:
At the Blooming Mill Slab Yard, cranes 197 & 198 are controlled by the use
of radio
controlled toggle switches.  The process of utilizing the toggle switches
for operational
control is causing excessive repetitive motion and awkward hand/wrist
positioning.  The
repetitive motion and awkward hand/wrist positioning is causing exposed
employees to suffer
pain in their hands, fingers, arms and wrists.  Some of the crane
operators are suffering
cumulative trauma disorders in the form of carpal tunnel syndrome.
General methods of abatement applicable in these circumstances include, but
are not limited to, the following:
1.  Worksite analysis:  This includes determining the actual and potential
hazards which can cause CTD's throughout Granite City Steel.  This can be
accomplished by reviewing OSHA-200 logs and workmen's comp cases.  The
observing of different processes throughout the plant which require
repetitive
motion and awkward body postures and excessive lifting is another key
method
of determining actual and potential hazards.
2.  Hazard prevention and control:  When the worksite analysis is complete,
measures need to be taken to prevent CTD hazards.  This can be accomplished
through engineering controls, work practice controls, PPE and
Administrative
controls.
3.  Medical management: an effective medical management program is needed
in order to identify signs and symptoms relating to CTD's and to provide
proper treatment to the affected employees.  This can also be helpful in
preventing additional cases of CTD's through recognition of an occupational
condition causing the symptoms.
4.  Training and Education:  Through training and education of ergonomic
hazards and symptoms relating to the onset of CTD's, employees and
management can better detect problems in their earlier stages.  This early
recognition should reduce the number of CTD cases and provide a work
environment designed to prevent the occurrence of CTD's.
Specific feasible methods of abatement applicable in these circumstances
include but are not limited to the following:
1.  Replace the current radio-controller with a proportional activation
joy-stick.
This would permit employees to safely position and activate the crane with
the
same or higher production rates, while nearly eliminating repetitive finger
activations and awkward wrist postures.  If the joy-stick(s) were
incorporatedinto an ergonomically correct, adjustable seat, the shelf
mechanism where the
current unit sits could be eliminated.  This would significantly improve
the
view of the work floor for the operator.
2.  Lengthen the current levers making them whole hand operable.  This
would allow for more muscle groups to be used while operating which would
allow for more muscle groups to be used while operating which would create
less stress on smaller, more isolated muscle groups.
3.  Use the current radio-control box with a change in operator technique.
The new technique would allow only one lever to be activated with each hand
at any given time.  This would reduce finger activation frequencies and
awkward wrist postures but would probably also reduce the production rate.
Reduce the spring tension to a minimum.  The spring tension could be
adjusted
the minimum amount of force which would allow for the levers to return to
their original destination (neutral position) if activation force is
released.
4.  Implement work rest schedules for the crane operators.  In general, a
15
minute rest break at least every two hours is required.  However,
concentrated
tasks such as the current crane operating routine requires a more frequent
period of rest.  The generally accepted recommendation for such
concentrated
tasks is 5 minute rest periods per hour.
5.  Perform necessary maintenance and improve the operating system such
that
there are a minimum of finger actions necessary to perform a given
function.
it appears that the operator must often activate a lever several times to
make
the required adjustment.  Maintaining or improving the operating system
such
that the machine is properly responsive on the first activation sequence
should
reduce the overall number of activations and thus reduce the hazard of the
task.
6.  Reduce the exposure time to the hazards of repetitive motion and
awkward
hand/wrist positions.  This could be done by limiting 8-hour shifts to 4
hours
of crane operations and 4 hours of a different task which would not involve
repetitive motion and awkward hand/wrist positions.
DISCLAIMER:
a.  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA.
b.  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement
method.