OSHA Inspection: RETAIL VENTURES INCORPORATED

Issued

Apr 27, 1990

Abate by

Nov 1, 1990

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $250 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
increased risk of cumulative trauma disorder(s) from the tasks that they
were performing and administrative or engineering controls were not
provided:
a) Distribution center, unpacking department, processing clerks lifting
boxes that weigh 28 pounds from the unpacking racks - the evaluation
of this manual lifting task indicates that employees are exposed to a
hazard which is causing or is likely to cause musculoskeletal injury.
The injury and illness results for 1988 and 1989 documented a pattern
of musculoskeletal injuries. (2/08/89).
Feasible methods of control, among others, would be:
1) Eliminate unloading rack, and replace with pallets.
2) Install wheels on the existing racks so they can be rotated.
3) Use only front row of boxes if racks without wheels are used.
4) Training and education in proper lifting techniques.
Abatement normally will be multistep as follows:
Step 1 - Effective administrative protection, such as employee training,
baseline health surveillance, job rotation, etc. shall be
provided as an interim protective measure until feasible
engineering or permanent administrative controls can be
implemented which will reduce employee exposure to the hazard
of musculoskeletal injuries.
Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of
engineering or administrative measures to control employee
injury due to manual lifting tasks. Engineering controls to
reduce musculoskeletal stresses include, but are not limited
to, job redesign, reduction of the horizontal and vertical load
distance from the body, reduction of the lifting frequency or
weight, and use of mechanical lifting aids. This plan shall
include at a minimum target dates for the following actions
which must be consistent with the dates required by this
citation.
1) Evaluation of the conditions, locations and manual lifting
activities that the employees are performing at the onset of
musculoskeletal injuries.
2) Evaluation of applicable control measures(s).
3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control
measures(s).
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.
THIRTY (30) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE
ABATEMENT PERIOD.
Step 3 - Develop a rehabilitation program for injuried workers. The
program is expected to include exercise, building stamina,
training in safe lifting techniques, work conditioning and
demonstration that the worker is able to resume work.
Step 4 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls. Where the
lifting task analyses in NIOSH's Work Practices Guide for
Manual Lifting has been utilized, compliance will be achieved
when the calculated action level is met.

Issued

Mar 7, 1990

Abate by

Apr 11, 1990

Issued

Mar 7, 1990

Abate by

Apr 11, 1990

Issued

Mar 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1990

Issued

Mar 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 16, 1990