OSHA Inspection: NICOFIBERS, INC.

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Jun 1, 1995

Penalty

Initial $1,225 · Current $825 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 was
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that forming helpers were
required
as part of their job to perform forceful, repetitive motions in postures
that resulted in stressors that caused incidents of cumulative trauma
or musculoskeletal disorders:
a)  As of 6-2-93, forming helpers who were performing loading of the
hoppers with glass on the loading platform were expected to push a cart
mounted on rails that, filled with glass, weighed in excess of 2300
pounds.  The employee was also required to manually stop the cart once
this cart was positioned in front of the hopper that was to be manually
loaded.
The employee then manually filled hoppers with glass nuggets using
a pail to scoop the glass from the cart to the hoppers.  The pail filled
with glass weighed in excess of 50 pounds.  The employee was required to
bend over, lift the loaded pail from the cart, twist 180 degrees, then
lift the pail to dump into the hoppers which were above the employee's
shoulder height.
b)  As of 6-2-93, forming helpers were required to manually push and
pull a fiberglass mat rolling table which weighed in excess of 1000
pounds.  Employees were also required to stop the table after it had been
in motion without any mechanical power devices or brakes.  Once this table
was moved to where the fiberglass mats would be rolled, the employees bend
over to a height at or below the waist and manually roll the mats, which
weighed in excess of 400 pounds.
Feasible and useful methods of abatement may include, but are not limited
to the following:
1)  Use of an automated hopper loading device that would mount on
the rails of the loading platform, having motorized movement and braking
capabilities, and would eliminate manual glass-filling of the hoppers by
employees with the pail.
2)  Use of a lifting device to raise or otherwise adjust the mat
rolling table to bring the level of the table to a height that would
reduce
or eliminate employees having to bend over to roll the fiberglass mats.
3)  Motorizing the mat rolling table in such a way that the table
is self-propelled and self-braking, to eliminate employee manual moving
and stopping.
4)  Use of cross beams and hoists to carry the fiberglass mats from
the forming area to the rolling table.
5)  Employee training on the recognition and avoidance of ergonomic
stressors and associated musculoskeletal and cumulative trauma disorders,
and safe lifting techniques to prevent back injuries.
6)  Develop a written ergonomic program, including provisions for
engineering and administrative controls to prevent ergonomic-related
injuries, and medical surveillance procedures to facilitate recognition
and treatment of any associated injuries.

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Dec 31, 1993

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Oct 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Oct 17, 1993

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Oct 12, 1993

Issued

Sep 29, 1993

Abate by

Oct 9, 1993