OSHA Inspection: S.S.I. FOOD SERVICES INC.

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Oct 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $810

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
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS:
A) IQF PACKAGING/BOXING DEPARTMENT - EMPLOYEES PACKAGING FROZEN
HAMBURGERS WERE EXPOSED TO POSTURAL AND REPETITIVE UPPER BODY
MOTIONS RESULTING IN STRESSES LIKELY TO CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TENDONITIS
AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. FACTORS WHICH HAVE LIKELY CONTRIBUTED
TO THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE:
1) WRIST FLEXIONS IN BOTH HANDS, WITH APPLIED FORCE, TRANSFERRING EACH
BATCH OF HAMBURGERS FROM CHUTES TO BOXES.
2) ARCHING AND TWISTING UPPER BODY MOTIONS WHILE TRANSFERRING EACH BATCH
OF HAMBURGERS.
3) POSTURAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE ROUTINELY FLEXED NECK(S).
4) COLD ENVIRONMENT/MATERIAL HANDLING.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
1) PARTIAL OR COMPLETE AUTOMATION OF THE PROCESS TO REDUCE THE
FREQUENCY AND NUMBER OF STRESSFUL MOTIONS PERFORMED BY EMPLOYEES.
2) REORIENTATION AND PLACEMENT OF THE BOXES NEXT TO AND FACING THE
HAMBURGER CHUTES TO REDUCE THE UPPER BODY MOTIONS AND ELIMINATE
TWISTING AND ARCHING OF THE BACK.
3) ALTERING THE CHUTE HEIGHTS TO REDUCE UPPER BODY MOTION AND REDUCE/
ELIMINATE ARCHING OF THE BACK.
4) ALTERING THE METHOD OF STACKING HAMBURGERS INTO THE BOXES TO REDUCE
THE WRIST/ARM MOTIONS REQUIRED.
5) EMPLOYEE ROTATION INTO JOBS NOT REQUIRING THE USE OF THE SAME MUSCLE
GROUPS.
6) SIT/STAND RESTS TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES CHANGES IN POSTURES.
6) MICROMAGIC ASSEMBLY LINE - EMPLOYEES LAYING OUT HAMBURGERS, CHEESE
AND ONIONS WERE EXPOSED TO POSTURAL AND REPETITIVE UPPER BODY MOTIONS
RESULTING IN STRESSES LIKELY TO CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO CUMULATIVE
TRAUMA DISORDERS SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TENDONITIS, CARPAL
TUNNEL SYNDROME AND GANGLION CYSTS.
FACTORS WHICH HAVE LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE:
1) WRIST FLEXIONS IN BOTH HANDS WHILE LAYING OUT HAMBURGERS.
2) PINCH GRIPS, WITH APPLIED FORCE, USED BY EMPLOYEES (A) TO BREAK
CHEESE PIECES APART AND (B) LAYING OUT HAMBURGERS.
3) TWISTING UPPER BODY MOTIONS TO REACH THE HAMBURGERS IN THE SUPPLY
BOXES.
4) COLD ENVIRONMENT/MATERIAL HANDLING.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
1) PARTIAL OR COMPLETE AUTOMATION (I.E., MECHANICAL CHEESE LAY-OUT).
2) REORIENTATION AND PLACEMENT OF THE HAMBURGER SUPPLY BOXES.
3) EMPLOYEE ROTATION (SEE ITEM (A)).
4) SIT/STAND RESTS (SEE ITEM (A)).

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 3, 1991

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Hazardous substances 8110

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 12, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 12, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 12, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Mar 28, 1991

Hazardous substances 8111

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Hazardous substances 8111

Issued

Mar 25, 1991

Abate by

Apr 24, 1991

Hazardous substances 8111