OSHA Inspection: LANCASTER GLASS CORPORATION

Issued

Jul 14, 1993

Abate by

Dec 13, 1994

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,000 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
required to perform tasks resulting in stressors that had caused,
were causing, or were likely to cause repetitive motion traumas:
a.  In the Lancaster Glass Company, 240 West Main Street,
Lancaster, Ohio, selectors performed tasks which involved frequent
repetitive motions and multiple awkward postures.  These tasks caused
worker neck, wrist, arm, elbow, hand, shoulder and back movements and
or postures that exposed workers to ergonomic stressors that have
the potential to cause carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness, pain,
tingling  and loss of strength of the hands and arms.  Workers can
be protected from the workplace ergonomic stressors by a program
including but not limited to the following:
Recognition:
1.  Use the assistance of an expert qualified by education,
training and experience in the field of ergonomics to conduct a
comprehensive study of the workplace aimed at a more extensive
exposition of the workplace ergonomic hazards that affect workers
and that can result in static posture and repetitive motion related
disease.
2.  Use a combination of worker questionaires, as appropriate
and medical examinations to identify and establish a baseline of
workers who have symptoms associated with work related muscle strain
and/or cumulative trauma disorders.
3.  Conduct an analysis of the work method(s), tool(s), and work
station(s) for each worker that suffers an OSHA recordable cumulative
trauma disorder (CTD) illness.  This should include development and
use of ergonomic checklists, employee questionaires, and videotape
technology.  Solicit the comments and suggestions of affected
supervisors, employees, and the engineering and maintenance
departments.
4.  Make indicated changes to reduce stresses on the employees.
If there are similar work tasks and stations, modify them.  After
30 days, review the results of the changes and determine whether
further changes are needed.
Engineering Modifications/Controls:
Investigate a series of workstation and work process changes that
include but are not limited to:
1.  Make work platform adjustable to accomodate varying heights
of employees.
2.  Light boxes need to be insite into counter top so that ware
can be slid across light for inspection, thereby eliminating picking
up of ware.
3.  Counting mechanism also needs to be inlaid in counter top
or a digit automatic counter installed thereby eliminating reaching
to operate counter mechanism.
4.  Lehr speed needs to be increased so that overreaching doesn't
occur while employees wait on parts to come to them.
5.  Tables for packing ware need to be adjustable to accomodate
the different heights of boxes.
Workplace Practice:  Modification/changes:
Investigate eliminating the following selector practice changes
which add extra movements and awkward postures:
1.  Overreaching on Lehr to pick up ware for inspection.
2.  Relocate packing tables and boxes to side or front to
eliminate turning of employees.
3.  Implement a multipole stage operation in which inspecting
ware, applying protective wrap, packing of ware in boxes, insertion
of cardboard separators is done on a conveyor type system with which
each task being performed by separate individuals.
Medical Management:
Establish a series of programs aimed at securing medical identification
and treatment of workers ergonomic injuries and illnesses that include
but are not limited to the following:
1.  Bring forth a heightened awareness of effective physical
therapy programs in the treatment of ergonomic maladies.
2.  In coordination with the injured worker's doctor, after a
CTD illness, provide work that is consistent with the worker's
capabilities.
3.  Monitor new and CTD damaged workers.  Determine whether they
are performing tasks using the company prescribed methods, practices,
and workplace configurations.  Periodically review the performance
with the worker, supervisor, safety and health director, and the
medical department manager.
Worker Ergonomic Hazard Awareness:
1.  Develop a training program that instructs workers in the
recognition of neutral postures for the body, arm and hand to avoid
repetitive motion or cumulative trauma disorders.  Train workers to
use minimum stress methods for task performance and enforce its use.
Accident and Ergonomic Incident Reporting:
1.  Establish improvements in workplace accident and illness
recordkeeping to improve the ability to perform trend analysis.
2.  Ensure that an effective procedure exists that collects more
meaningful information on OSHA 101 (or equivalent) accident report
forms.
Disclaimers:
1.  You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2.  The methods explained are general and may not be effective
in all cases.

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Hazardous substances 81108111

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Dec 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $740 Reduced

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Jun 29, 1993

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Jun 29, 1993

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Jun 29, 1993

Issued

Jun 24, 1993

Abate by

Jun 29, 1993