OSHA Inspection: GODFREY COMPANY

Issued

Jun 7, 1988

Abate by

Nov 1, 1988

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $420 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) The employer took no action to determine the cause of injuries of
workers with a history of both numerous and severe worker back, trunk
and lifting-related injuries. Further, the employer did not modify
the lifting tasks to minimize the hazard, nor did he establish and
administer an effective worker and supervisor lifting training
program.
The workplace lifting-related hazards can be abated by a program that
includes, but is not limited to:
a) Investigate past and new worker injuries as they occur. Take
corrective action to change the workplace, procedure, etc., to
prevent future accidents.
b) Ask supervisors and workers to give specific details concerning
lifting and material handling tasks that they have found to be highly
stressful. Use the information wherever possible to change the job(s)
and evaluate the results.
c) Teach employees and supervisors safe lifting techniques.
d) Establish an on-going relationship with therapists aimed at
rehabilitating injured workers. The program is expected to include
exercise, building stamina, training in safe lifting techniques, work
harding, and demonstration that the worker is able to resume
unrestricted work at the Godfrey Company.
e) Reduce worker lifting strains by changing computer generated order
forms, and order assembly to cause heavy items to be assembled into
the lower half of the pallet loads.
f) Reduce worker lifting strain by causing heavy items being selected
to be elevated by using stacked pallets under the heavy item piles.
g) Reduce worker lifting strain by providing walk space along the sides
of pallets containing heavy objects. Alternately, cause heavy item
pallets to be put on rollers so that order assemblers can pull them
forward to reach items at the back of the piles.
h) Reduce worker strain by purchasing, handling, and selling heavy
grocery and produce items in smaller size cartons and bags.
i) Reduce worker lifting strain by purchasing, handling, and selling
grocery and produce items in containers that have hand holes in the
sides of cartons.

Issued

Jun 7, 1988

Abate by

Jun 10, 1988