OSHA Inspection: R. L. ZEIGLER CO., INC.

Issued

Nov 30, 1993

Abate by

Aug 27, 1994

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 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:
a) Employees were exposed to the hazards of Cumulative Trauma
Disorders while performing various tasks during the processing of
red meat products.  Awkward body postures and repetitive motions,
such as but not limited to twisting, pinching, gripping, flexing,
reaching, lifting, bending, pushing, and pulling create upper and
lower extremity stressors on the body that have caused or are
likely to cause cumulative trauma disorders such as but not limited
to: carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts, and tendonitis.  These
hazards exist in departments including, but not limited to:
A.  Wiener Manufacture             B.  Bologna Processing
C.  Smoked Sausage Manufacture     D.  Bacon
E.  Lunch Meat Processing
Employees were exposed to the risk of increased severity and/or
recurrence of illness in that the employer's Ergonomics Program had
not been implemented, effective Administrative and/or Engineering
Controls were not in place, and a medical management program had
not been developed.
MULTI-STEP ABATEMENT AS FOLLOWS:
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazards rests with
the employer given his superior knowledge of the operation,
feasible and acceptable methods of abatement include but are not
limited to:
STEP 1:   Effectively implement the company's written ergonomic
program.
a)  Use the OSHA publication 3123, "Ergonomics Program
Management Guidelines for Meat Packing Plants,"  and
OSHA's proposed Ergonomic
Safety and Health Management Rule (published in the
Federal Register on August 3, 1992) to assist in the
effective implementation of the program.
b)  Utilize the services of a person trained to recognize
and evaluate ergonomic hazards to assist the company in
implementing the ergonomic program.
c)  Conduct periodic surveys to ensure the effectiveness
of the ergonomic program.
d)  Conduct a worksite analysis to identify high risk
work positions that are causing or are likely to cause
cumulative trauma disorders.
ABATEMENT DATE IS 12/27/93.
STEP 2:   Reduce/eliminate ergonomic stressors through engineering,
work practice, and administrative controls.
a)  To reduce ergonomic stressors, implement a rotation
schedule that provides as much variation as possible in
the distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal
activity.
b)  Train employees to use the least stressful body
positions while performing job tasks.
c)  Adjust line speed to reduce the frequency of motion.
d)  Alter employee work station designs to reduce
stressors to the body.
e)  Set up conditioning and break-in periods for new
employees and persons returning to work after
medical/annual leave.
f)  Conduct regular monitoring to ensure that employees
are using proper work practices.
g)  Evaluate and modify engineering controls as necessary
to ensure their effectiveness.
ABATEMENT DATE IS 05/27/94.
STEP 3:   Develop and implement a medical management program.
a)  Utilize the services of a physician or occupational
health nurse with training in the prevention and
treatment of cumulative trauma disorders and/or other
ergonomic stressors to implement the program.
b)  Ensure that the program addresses at a minimum:
injury and illness reporting, early recognition and
reporting of CTDs, systematic evaluation and referral,
conservative treatment, conservative return to work, and
an adequate staff and facilities.
c)  Institute a formal documented tracking and
surveillance program to monitor injury trends at the facility.
ABATEMENT DUE IS 02/27/94.
STEP 4:   Develop and implement an effective ergonomic training
program.
a)  Effectively train employees and management concerning
the company's ergonomic program.
b)  Train employees about the specific ergonomic hazards
associated with their jobs and the equipment they use.
c)  Conduct employee and management training regarding
the varieties of CTDs, causal factors, recognition and
reporting of symptoms, and ways to prevent CTDs.
d)  Supervisors should be trained to recognize early
signs and symptoms of CTDs, how to recognize hazardous
practices, and to reinforce the employer's ergonomics
program.
ABATEMENT DUE IS 12/27/93.

Issued

Nov 30, 1993

Abate by

Dec 27, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Nov 30, 1993

Abate by

Dec 27, 1993

Issued

Nov 30, 1993

Abate by

Dec 27, 1993