OSHA Inspection: REPAP WISCONSIN, INC.

Issued

Sep 30, 1992

Abate by

Jun 30, 1995

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,100 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:
(a) Workers are exposed to lifting strains when they handle logs
weighing up to 100 pounds by stacking them and feeding them into
the log grinders.  Workers are exposed to repetitive motion hand
stressors when they pick up logs by the ends using single-hand
pinch grips and use a log to handle another log into alignment
inside the log grinder chutes.
Worker ergonomic-related injury and repetitive motion related
illness can be reduced by a program that includes, but is not
limited to:
(1) Provide engineering and work process controls that reduce
stress on the workers' hands.
(A) Evaluate and implement, where feasible, the following:
-- Install a splitter machine so that heavy logs can
be split once.
-- Assure that the maximum log weight will be 50 lbs.
-- Fabricate log carrier frames.  The suggested maximum
height is four feet.
Stack the cut and split wood directly into the frames.
-- Minimize further block piler handling through the use
of mechanical handling equipment.
-- Alternatively, evaluate the use of chippers that would
reduce the logs and drop the chips into containers.
(B) Several stressors to grinders were observed, including
non-level flooring, excess walking from the supply
elevator to the grinder machine fill door, hammering on
log ends so that the grinder fill door could be closed,
log handling that did not allow operating while using two
hands in close proximity to the body and with the back
erect.
-- Raise the floor at the grinder machines to minimize
tripping hazards.
-- Modify the grinder chutes so that logs could be dropped
into the top of the chute rather than through a side
opening door.
-- Deliver filled log carriers close to the grinder
machine chutes using mechanical handling equipment.
Provide a holding frame 24 inches high beside the
grinder chutes so that ends of log carrier loads can
be held while the empty carrier is removed and a filled
one is being spotted.
-- Direct that grinder workers not hold one log and use
it to hammer other logs in the grinder machine chute.
(C) Perform worksite analyses that include worker involvement
in handling logs.
Develop a work procedure that minimizes the worker
stressors.
(2) (A) Establish a medical management program that promotes early
and open reporting of problems by workers and includes:
-- early recognition and reporting,
-- systematic evaluation and referral,
-- conservative treatment,
-- conservative return to work, and
-- systematic monitoring.
(B) Establish which doctors are aware of industrial medicine.
(C) Establish a therapy regime that is aimed at timely re-
storation of the worker's capability and return to work
for workers that are on medical leave related to ergonomic
problems.
(3) Establish a training and education program.  Using work
analysis information, train workers and their supervisors in
the minimum ergonomic stress procedures that shall be used to
perform the work.  The use of simple video tapes made using
workers who are performing the work is encouraged.  Period-
ically re-evaluate the jobs, medical experience, worker(s)
comments, and make improvements to the program.  Annually
retrain workers performing identified ergonomically stressful
jobs.

Issued

Aug 19, 1992

Abate by

Sep 18, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 19, 1992

Abate by

Aug 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 19, 1992

Abate by

Aug 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Aug 19, 1992

Abate by

Nov 19, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,500 Reduced