OSHA Inspection: ABU GARCIA

Issued

Jul 13, 1990

Abate by

Dec 3, 1990

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 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
the hazard of excessive radio-fregquency, nor ionizing radiation while
operating heat sealers:
a) Packaging Division of Kingfischer Division;
On 5/7/90, employees operating Kabar 10K169 prototype model were exposed
to exposed to excessive amounts of non-ionizing radiation which exceeded
the radio Frequency Protection Guidelines for a Frequency range of
3-30MHZ (electric field 4000 V2/m2, and magnetic field 0.025 A2/m2
established in ANSI Standard C95.1-1982.
Measurements of the electric and magnetic fields were taken with a
Holiday HI-3002 Board Band Exposure Meter.
Electric Field                      Magnetic Field
position         Reading             Positon    Reading
Read
Left Chart          9050 V2/m2       Right Lower Arm   0.0277 A2/m2
Left upper arm    12,005 V2/m2
Left Lower arm      9235 V2/m2
Left Hand           9235 V2/m2
Right Hand          4063 V2/m2
Waist               9050 V2/m2
Operator #2
(Right Side of Sealer)
Electric Field                            Magnetic Field
Position          Reading                Position        Reading
Right Hand         7388 V2/m2            Waist       0.0406 A2/m2
b) On 5/17/90, Employees operating Kabar 10K61 Table Top Model were
exposed to excessive amounts of non ionizing radiation which exceeded
the radio frequency protection guidelines for a frequency range of
3-30 MHZ (electric field 4000 u2/m2, and magnetic field of 0.025
A2/m2) established in ANSI Standard C95/1-1982.
Measurements of the electric and magnetic fields were taken with a
Holiday HI-3002 Broad band exposure meter.
Operator of Table Top Meter Model
Electric Field                              Magnetic Field
Position          Reading                 Position      Reading
Forehead/Eyes       4460 V2/m2                Ankles      0.0312 A2/m2
Hands               6204 V2/m2
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptible abatement method
to correct the hazard is to implement a program which includes but
is not limited to the following items:
A)
1) Develop a written plan which outlines the controls contemplated and
describes their implementation. Submit this plan to the AREA DIRECTOR
no later than 45 calender days from receipt of the citation.
2) Enclose the source of the sealer to which the operators are exposed;
shielding material should be made up of aluminum or stainless steel.
3) Increase the distance between the operator and sealer's point of
operation.
4) Administratively control the amount of exposure by slowing the
frequency of the sealers "on time".
5) Verify the effectiveness of the selected controls with actual
measurements taken at the appropriate body part and position of the
operator.
B) Implement a training program for the operators of the radio which
includes but is not limited to the following:
a) The physical and health hazards of non-ionizing radiation;
b) Protective measures employes can take to protect themselves from
the hazards of non-ionizing radiation, such as appropriate work
practices, and the purpose of engineering controls and any other
protective measures taken by the employer.
C) Complete abatement, including the installation of engineering control
verification of their effectiveness shall be completed 90 days from
receipt of the citation.

Issued

Jul 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 24, 1990

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $240 Reduced

Issued

Jul 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 21, 1990

Penalty

Initial $100

Issued

Jul 13, 1990

Abate by

Jul 21, 1990

Issued

Jul 13, 1990

Abate by

Aug 8, 1990