OSHA Inspection: CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES, INC.

Issued

Jan 18, 1991

Abate by

Jun 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

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
serious injury from lifting tasks without administrative or engineering
controls. Review of the injury and illness records revealed that there
was a pattern of musculoskeletal/overexertion injuries associated with
manual lifing tasks. The evaluation of the following operation indicates
that employees were exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal
injuries as a result of repetitive lifting or overexertion:
A) Grain Room/Shipping and Receiving: Handling bags of food and bedding
includding such tasks as: Unloading pallets onto sterilizer carts;
unloading sterizizer carts onto pallets in grain room; placingbags
onto the "iron horse" and dumping them into the hopper.
One feasible means of abatement would be to use a revolving lift table
for pallets that would reduce the horizontal and vertical load distances
from the body. Another option would be to use a material handling hoist
to lift bags from the pallet to the "iron horse".

Issued

Jan 18, 1991

Abate by

Jan 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $70 · Current $70