OSHA Inspection: AFFILIATED FOODS

Issued

Feb 24, 1993

Abate by

Mar 29, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 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 required to
perform lifting tasks resulting in stresses that had caused, were
causing, or were likely to cause musculoskeletal injuries:
a)  Order selectors in the boxed beef and boxed pork
warehouse operation - the evaluation of this manual
lifting task indicates that employees are exposed
to a hazard which is causing or likely to cause
musculoskeletal disorders.  The employer did not
implement an effective control strategy to reduce
or eliminate such disorders.  The injury and illness
records for 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 documented
a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries, January 22,
1993.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to correct this hazard is the
implementation of an ergonomics management program
consisting of the following four elements.
(1)  Worksite analysis to recognize and identify
existing manual lifting hazards in the
workplace.  This analysis should include
development and use of an ergonomic checklist
and employee questionnaire.  Periodic surveys
of the worksite shall be conducted at least
annually to evaluate work practices and
engineering controls.  Employee participation
in the ergonomic program should be encouraged
through a mechanism such as a safety committee.
(2)  Medical management which includes accurate
recordkeeping of manual lifting injuries.  The
program should address recognition, evaluation,
treatment and referral of lifting cases.
Systematic worksite review by the medical team
should also be included in the program.
(3)  Training and education for exposed employees,
including methods to evaluate the effectiveness
of the training.  Re-training should be done
annually, or as operations change.  Training
should address hazards associated with the job,
the risks of manual material handling, and how
to prevent lifting injuries.  A supervisor's
training program should also be implemented to
allow recognition of manual lifting hazards,
and to reinforce the employer's ergonomic
program.
(4)  Hazard prevention and control which includes
engineering, work practices and administrative
controls:
(a)  Engineering controls should be the primary
control method.  These are designed by a
qualified ergonomist and may include
assistive
lifting devices, special racking and
other similar apparatus.
(b)  Administrative controls are implemented
which reduce the duration, frequency, and
severity of exposure to manual lifting
hazards.  These controls may include job
rotation, reduction of repetitions, multiple
person lifts, and preventative maintenance
of related equipment.
(c)  Work practice controls are implemented which
include proper work techniques, new employee
conditioning, proper placement of loads,
and reduction of weight lifted.
Examples of work practice controls
applicable to this workplace include:
(i)   Reduction of stacking heights to
reduce heights of overhead lifts;
(ii)  Reduction of the weight of cases
lifted.
ABATEMENT SCHEDULE
Step 1 - Implementation of an ergonomics program for worksite analysis,
medical management, and training and education, as detailed in
items 1-3, above.
Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of the
administrative,
work practice and engineering controls as detailed in items 4(a)
- 4(c).
ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH
PARTICULAR USE BY A PERSON TRAINED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS WHICH CAUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS.
Step 3 - Implementation of administrative, work practice and engineering
controls as described in items 4(a) - 4(c), above.

Issued

Feb 24, 1993

Abate by

Mar 4, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $800 Reduced

Issued

Feb 24, 1993

Abate by

Mar 4, 1993

Issued

Feb 24, 1993

Abate by

Mar 4, 1993

Issued

Feb 24, 1993

Abate by

Mar 4, 1993