OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL METALWARES, INCORPORATED

Issued

Oct 17, 1989

Abate by

Apr 17, 1990

Penalty

Initial $480

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
an increased risk of developing cumulative trauma disorder(s) from tasks
that they were performing; engineering and administrative controls were
not implemented:
A) Plating Area - Workers inserting hooks into tubes on the chrome
plating line were exposed to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome when they
repetitively pushed hooks into tubes when striking the tops of the
hooks by using the base of the hand.
The hazard can be abated by a program including, but not limited to the
following:
1) Position the steel tube(s) vertically with the upper end located at
the worker's waist.
2) The worker will then insert the electrical conductor/hooks into the
individual tube ends. The worker will be instructed NOT to strike the
hook ends by using his/her fist or palm of the hand.
3) The tubes and hooks shall be placed in a rotating barrel that has a
smoothly-sloped roof. The individual tube and hooks shall fall into
cylinder cavities in the sides of the rotating barrel. The forward
motion of the hook and tube shall cause the hook to be pushed into
the tube.
4) The tubes and inserted hooks shall be dropped into a hopper/collector
to be picked up and hung on the chrome conveyor.

Issued

Oct 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 18, 1989

Penalty

Initial $480

Issued

Oct 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 18, 1989