OSHA Inspection: MARSHALL DURBIN COMPANIES

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Jul 23, 1996

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

using
proper lifting techniques will generally reduce the hazard of any lift.
12)Provide employees with a palletizer or similar device which will permit
most lifts
to be performed at desirable lifting heights which are generally thought
to be
about waist height.  Palletizers allow the loading floor to be maintained
at a
desirable height since placing additional weight on the device causes the
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
floor to
drop down.  Any device which will keep the loading height in desirable
elevations
will reduce the overall hazard of performing the task.
13)Administrative controls should be implemented whenever the AL is
exceeded.
According to the "NIOSH Lifting Guide", these should include worker
selection
criteria and placement strategies, and improved worker training in safe
lifting
employer did not
techniques.  Training requires that the individual have personal knowledge
of:
The risk of injury in the job due to lifting in a careless or unskilled
fashion;
Lifting methods by which one can reduce unnecessary stress;  His or her
physical
capacities to perform required lifts.(7)
14)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
15)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which
they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.
16)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above the floor allowing employees to
rest one
leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress as
well as
minimize foot fatigue.
17)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
recognized hazards that
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(h)  Food Craft:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees are
exposed to the ergonomic
stressors of frequent elbow abductions, arm lifts, reaches, frequent
contact trauma to the palm,
and the job entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering, work practice, and administration controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
employees in that employees
were required to perform tasks involving ergonomic risk factors including
but not limited to:
Repetitive Motion, frequent and elevated lifts and reaches, torso flexion,
forceful grasps, long
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Reorient employees and the supply pile such that employees can access
the wings
to be loaded without flexing the torso and can place the wings on the wheel
without abducting the elbow out and away from the body.  Employees should
be
periods of standing and equipment that does not fit properly, resulting in
able to perform the task while keeping the elbow in close to the torso and
without
reaching above about mid-chest level.
3)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
4)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.
5)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above the floor allowing employees to
stressers that had
rest one
leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress as
well as
minimize foot fatigue.
6)  Widen and flatten the existing actuators used to activate machinery to
be
more compatible with hand activation.  Replace the small contact surface
with a
surface which is wider such that the contact force can be distributed over
a larger
caused, were causing, or were likely to cause cumulative trauma
area.
7)Provide an ergonomically designed pair of scissors for the employee to
use.
These may include spring loaded scissors which open without pressure from
the
employees hand or electric shears.
8)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(i)  Debone:  Evaluation of these tasks indicates that employees are
disorder(s):
exposed to the ergonomic
stressors of frequent wrist deviations, elbow abductions, reaches across
the body, and the job
entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
(a) Live hang:  Evaluation of this task indicates that employees are
in the
exposed to the ergonomic
stressors of frequent elevated reaches away from the body, forceful hand
grasps and the job
entails long periods of standing. There are sufficient frequencies of
stressors associated with this
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Reorient the work station to limit the amount of reaching across the
front of the
torso.  Generally, reaches should be limited to less than 20 degrees of
shoulder
adduction (arm movement towards the direction the thumb points when the
palm
is down) from a starting point where the upper arm is at a 90 degree angle
with
task to cause musculoskeletal injuries unless adequate engineering and
the shoulders.  One option would be to place a receptacle for the tenders
pulled
by the left hand on the left side of the station.  A more desirable system
would
allow employees to drop the tenders on the conveyor belt below, but next
to the
carcass it has been pulled from.  At the end of the belt the carcass could
automatically go to one destination and the tenders could go to another.
This
technique would eliminate the need for repeated reaches across the torso.
administrative controls
3)Investigate different knife designs to reduce the deviation of the wrist
and the
amount of elbow abductions.  An "L" shaped knife with the handle on the
upper
side of the "L" and the blade with the cutting edge on the bottom of the
"L"
would permit the necessary cutting action with the wrist in a neutral power
posture and the elbow maintained in close to the torso.
4)Provide an ergonomically designed pair of scissors for the employee to
use.
are implemented. The employees perform frequent elevated reaches away from
These may include spring loaded scissors which open without pressure from
the
employees hand or electric shears.
5) Make sure gloves fit properly to reduce bulk and do not decrease tactile
sensitivity.  Gloves should be made of a material which increases the
coefficient
of friction between the hand and the load surface.  This will reduce the
hand and
finger force required to perform a particular repetitive task.
6)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
their body with
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(j) Multi-Cut:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees are
exposed to the ergonomic
stressors of frequent wrist deviations, finger force exertions, elevated
and extended reaches,
torso flexions, and the job entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
their elbows abducted out and away from their torso.
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
Examples of engineering, work place, and administrative controls
applicable to this work place
may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Many employees at various stations show relatively high frequencies of
repetition
of movement.  Hand cutting with a knife and hanging chickens on the
multi-cut
both require the performance of stressful actions at a rate of about 1500
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
actions
per hour.  Repetitions in excess of 1500 to 2000 repetitions per hour have
been
shown to cause tendon and sheath swelling.  Generally, repetitions should
be kept
below 1500 per hour especially for employees who show symptoms of
repetitive
motion injuries.  Employees who show symptoms may have to slow down or be
rotated to non stress tasks on a more frequent basis.
3)Educate the employee on the basics of body biomechanics and the
in the
importance of
maintaining the back in an ergonomically neutral position.  Generally, the
torso
should not be flexed more than 6 to 10 from vertical.
4)Provide employees with a tub dumper which will lift and tilt the tub
such that
employees can pull and slide chickens to the conveyor rather than lifting
each one
from the tub to the conveyor.
5)Reduce the distance employees must reach to perform tasks.  Reduce the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
size of
the fixture side such that employees can gain greater access to materials
to be
worked on. The steel shelf between the employee and the conveyor belt at
the
work area using the pneumatic scissors should be removed as it appears to
serve
no purpose in accomplishing the task.  Generally, reaches should be
limited to no
more than 16 to 17 inches.
2)Repetitions in excess of 1500 to 2000 repetitions per hour have been
6)Lower the height of the fixture which holds the chicken for automatic
cutting.
Currently employees must reach up to or above shoulder height  to place
the legs
of the bird into the holders.  If the overall distance between the fixture
and the
lower conveyor were smaller it appears that the overall height of the
fixture could
be lowered to the point where the leg hooks could be accessed while
limiting
shown to
reach heights.
cause tendon and sheath swelling.  Generally, repetitions should be kept
below
1500 per hour especially for employees who show symptoms of repetitive
motion
injuries.  Employees who show symptoms of injuries may need to operate at
7)Investigate different knife designs to reduce the deviation of the wrist
and elbow
abductions.  An "L" shaped knife with the handle on the upper side of the
"L"
and the blade with the cutting edge on the bottom of the "L" would permit
thenecessary cutting action for all cuts made with a downward stroke while
maintaining the wrist in a neutral power posture.
8)The pneumatic scissors should have a different orientation if the items
to be
reduced rates of production.
worked on are placed on a horizontal surface.  The current design would
work
well if the birds were hanging or positioned in front of the employee.  To
use the
scissors with the current conveyor based station the handle should be
in-line with
the scissors jaw.  This will permit use of the scissors with the wrist in
a straight
neutral posture.
9)Make sure gloves fit properly to reduce bulk and do not decrease tactile
3)Educate employees on the basics of body biomechanics and the importance
sensitivity.  Gloves should be made of a material which increases the
coefficient
of friction between the hand and the load surface.  This will reduce the
hand and
finger force required to perform a particular repetitive task.
10)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(k) Shipping:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees are
exposed to the ergonomic
of
stressors of frequent torso flexions and lifting motions.
Examples of engineering, work practice , and administrative controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Educate the employee on the basics of body biomechanics and the
maintaining the body in ergonomically neutral positions.  Training should
importance of
maintaining the back in an ergonomically neutral position.  Generally, the
torso
should not be flexed more than 6 to 10 from vertical.
3)Provide palletizers for all loading and unloading operations.
Palletizers permit
the majority of lifts to be performed for ergonomically desirable heights.
These
are generally considered to be lifts performed from about mid-thigh to
about
also
midchest
provide employees with knowledge of early warning signs of injury and
proper
reporting mechanisms.
4)Redesign the system to reduce the amount of elevated reaches required in
level with belt height being the optimum position.  Do not stack
boxes
above about mid-chest level.  All lifts should be able to be performed
with the
elbows held in close to the torso.
4)Repackage chicken into larger containers and use mechanical assists to
remove
the boxes from the conveyor and place them on pallets.
5)Educate employees on the basics of body biomechanics and the importance
of
maintaining the body in an ergonomically neutral position.  Generally
speaking
the torso should not be bent forward more than 6 to 10 degrees from
vertical and
reaches should not exceed 16 to 17 inches.
6)Anything that will reduce the Horizontal distance load is held from
body,
Vertical
distance at the point of origin, or Travel distance from origin to
destination will
reduce the chance of injury.
7)Use two employees whenever possible.  The use of two employees when using
proper lifting techniques will generally reduce the hazard of any lift.
8)Provide palletizers for all loading and unloading operations.
Palletizers permit
the majority of lifts to be performed for ergonomically desirable heights.
These
are generally considered to be lifts performed from about mid-thigh to
about
midchest
level with belt height being the optimum position.  Do not stack
boxes
above about mid-chest level.  All lifts should be able to be performed
with the
elbows held in close to the torso.
9)Repackage chicken into smaller boxes which do not weigh as much.
10)Repackage chicken into larger containers and use mechanical assists to
remove
the boxes from the conveyor and place them on pallets.
11)Administrative controls should be implemented whenever the action level
is
exceeded.  According to the "NIOSH Lifting Guide", these should include
worker
selection criteria and placement strategies, and improved worker training
in safe
lifting techniques.  Training requires that the individual have personal
knowledge
of: The risk of injury in the job due to lifting in a careless or
unskilled fashion;
Lifting methods by which one can reduce unnecessary stress;  His or her
physical
capacities to perform required lifts.(7)
12)Provide warm rest areas and rest periods which are adequate to warm
body parts
and provide adequate rest and recuperation periods.
13)Limit the work day for those employees who spend extended periods of
time in
cold environs.  These employees should generally not work longer than the
standard 8 hour work day and should be given adequate rest breaks.  This is
generally a minimum of 15 minutes every two hours.
14)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(l) Marination Line:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees
are exposed to the
ergonomic stressors of frequent elevated reaches, torso flexion, extended
reaches, and the job
entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering, administrative, and work practice controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.  Most of the task
along the
conveyor lines are one hand dominated.  Rotations should at a minimum
rotate
between sides of the conveyor to change the hand which is predominantly
used.
2)Elevate the employee in relation to the conveyor.  Employees should be
elevated
to the point where they can perform their task while maintaining their
elbows in
close to the torso.
3)Reduce the distance employees must reach to perform packing tasks.
Employees
should be elevated to the point where they do not have to perform elevated
or
extended reaches to access birds to be packed.  Generally, reaches should
be
limited to no more than 16 to 17 inches horizontally and vertically should
be
limited to no higher than about shoulder height.  Tasks should be
performed with
the elbows in close to the torso.
4)The packing box should be placed on an adjustable packing stand such that
employees do not need to repeatedly flex the torso to perform the packing
operations.  Generally, the torso should not be flexed more than about 6
to 10
degrees from vertical.
5)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
the
hanging process.  Lower the overhead conveyor such that employees can hang
the
chicken while elevating the hands no more than about mid-chest level and
limiting
reach distances to no more than about 16 inches in front of the employee.
5)If lowering the entire line is not feasible at least lower the end at
the beginning
of the station which seems to have the highest frequency and should
encounter the
least interference between the upper hanging birds and those on the lower
conveyor.  Rotation of employees to different positions on the line should
provide
all employees with a chance to work in the less stressful areas of the
hanging
process.
6)Develop rotation and rest schemes which involve other areas of the plant
which
allow employees frequent periods of time for rest and recuperation of
affected
musculoskeletal groups.
7)Provide fully adjustable work stands such that each employee can quickly
adjust
their station to fit their particular body anthropometry.  Work stands
should
permit vertical adjustment such that all employees performing the task can
work
in neutral postures most of the time.
8)Reduce the length of the U-shaped loop which holds the legs.  It appears
that
there is about 3 inches of the loop which is not needed to secure the leg
of the
bird but must be reached over to place the legs into the rack.  Provide a
rack
which will hold the bird but reduces the height employees must reach to
place the
leg into the loop.
9)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
10)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above standing height allowing
employees to rest
one leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress
as well as
minimize foot fatigue.
11)Make sure gloves fit properly and do not decrease tactile sensitivity.
Gloves
should be made of a material which increases the coefficient of friction
between
the hand and the load surface.  This will reduce the hand and finger force
required to perform a particular repetitive task.  There are rubber gloves
which
have rough surface and can increase the coefficient of friction between
the hand
and the load lifted.
12)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(b) Rehang:  Evaluation of this task indicates that employees are exposed
to the ergonomic
stressors of high frequency grabs and lifts, extended periods of standing,
and employees are
wearing large rubber gloves which fit poorly and/or are made of materials
with a low coefficient
of friction require more force production by the fingers and hands to
overcome decreases in
friction and tactile sensitivity.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this work place may
include, but are not limited
to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Repetitions in excess of 1500 to 2000 repetitions per hour have been
shown to
cause tendon and sheath swelling.  Generally, repetitions should be kept
below
1500 per hour especially for employees who show symptoms of repetitive
motion
injuries. Employees who show symptoms may have to slow down.   Either all
positions should be paced to reduce the overall frequency or positions
should be
frequently rotated to provide periods of rest.
3)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
4)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.
5)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above the standing height allowing
employees
to
rest one leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back
stress as
well as minimize foot fatigue.
6)Make sure gloves fit properly and do not decrease tactile sensitivity.
Gloves
should be made of a material which increases the coefficient of friction
between
the hand and the load surface.  This will reduce the hand and finger force
required to perform a particular repetitive task.  There are rubber gloves
which
have rough surface and can increase the coefficient of friction between
the hand
and the load lifted.
7)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(c) Evisceration Line:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees
are exposed to the
ergonomic stressors of frequent pinch grips to activate the scissors and
secure and clean
gizzards, frequent elevated and extended reaches, the use of conventional
scissors requires force
to be exerted with the back of the fingers and thumb to open the scissors
jaws, and the job
entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this work place may
include, but are not limited
to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Rotate employees through the position of gizzard machine.  Rotation
during the
work cycle to tasks such as the one which places the giblets in position
for
automatic removal, or the position where giblets are separated should
provide
adequate periods of rest.  Create a right and a left hand station where
different
hands are used to hold the gizzards onto the machines.  Rotate employees
between right and left hand stations.
3)Develop an automated machine where gizzards could be fed in and they
would
automatically go over the cleaner without the employee applying finger
force to
hold them in place.
4)It appears that most gizzards are automatically cleaned and only a few
fail to be
adequately cleaned.  Gather all rejects and run them through again.  If
they still
do not come clean throw them out.  Manual removal of the lining appears to
require the greatest amount of finger force exertion and thus presents the
greatest
risk of injury.
5)Reduce the distance employees must reach to perform tasks.  Reduce the
size of
the fixture side or move employees closer to the task such that employees
can
gain greater access to materials to be worked on.  Generally, reaches
should be
limited to no more than 16 to 17 inches.
6)Provide employees with fully adjustable work stands such that they can
position
themselves in such a manner as to maintain neutral work postures.  Both
employees observed are too low in relation to their assigned task.  They
should
be elevated such that they can perform the task with the elbows in close
to the
torso and without lifting the hands above armpit height.
7)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
8)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.9)Provide
foot rests 4 to 6 inches above foot height allowing employees to rest one
leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress as
well as
minimize foot fatigue.
10)Provide an ergonomically designed pair of scissors for the employee to
use.
These may include spring loaded scissors which open without pressure from
the
employees hand or electric shears.  Any bend that is required for the task
should
be incorporated into the scissors so the employee can maintain a neutral
wrist
when performing the task.
11)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(d) Giblet Operation:  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees
are exposed to the
ergonomic stressors of frequent, deep torso flexions with the arms
extended in front of the body
to shovel ice from deep transport tubs, perform frequent torso flexions
with the arms extended
in front of the body to access giblet parts to be placed on packing
conveyors, employees have
extended periods of standing which creates static loading on the muscles
of the back and legs,
and the use of plastic in-line handle scoop with a low coefficient of
friction forces employees
to apply considerable finger force with the wrist in a deviated posture.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this work place may
include, but are not limited
to, the following:
1)Educate the employee on the basics of body biomechanics and the
importance of
maintaining the back in an ergonomically neutral position.  Generally, the
torso
should not be flexed more than 6 to 10 from vertical.
2)Provide a tub dumper which can be height adjusted and tilted for proper
access
by employees.  The tub should be elevated and tilted toward employees such
that
they can perform the task while keeping the back straight and the torso
vertical.
3)If this operation is to be performed on a repeated basis create a
station where a
hopper can be loaded and the ice distributed without employees lifting and
transporting ice using a shovel.  This procedure even with the best work
station
design stresses the low back, shoulder, and hands.  A hopper where an
entire
load of ice is dumped with the aid of mechanical devices and is
distributed by
release from a chute would reduce much of the musculoskeletal stress.
4)Tilt and elevate the bins employees must reach into such that the amount
of torso
flexion can be reduced.  The current flexion is fairly minimal and only
slight
modification should be needed to reduce flexion to desirable limits.
5)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
6)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.
7)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above the floor allowing employees to
rest one
leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress as
well as
minimize foot fatigue.
8)Provide a scoop for the operation which has a bent handle such that it
can be used
while maintaining the wrist in a neutral posture.  Tool handles should be
cylindrical or oval with a diameter of 1.25 to 1.75 inches.  For precision
operations the handle can be reduced to 0.2 to 0.5 inches.  These tools
should
have a non-slip handle of rubber or roughened plastic and can have flutes
or
ridges to increase torque application.(e) Chiller rehang:  Evaluation of
these tasks indicate that employees are exposed to the
ergonomic stressors of frequent torso flexions, lifts, finger exertions,
repeated reaches, repeated
forceful finger excertions, and the job entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this work place may
include,
but are not limited
to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Educate the employee on the basics of body biomechanics and the
importance of
maintaining the body in an ergonomically neutral position.  Generally
speaking
the torso should not be bent forward more than 6 to 10 degrees from
vertical and
reaches should not exceed 16 to 17 inches.
3)Anything that will reduce the Horizontal distance load is held from
body, Vertical
distance at the point of origin, or Travel distance from origin to
destination will
reduce the chance of injury.
4)Provide employees with a tub dumper which will lift and tilt the tub
such that
employees can pull and slide chickens to the conveyor rather than lifting
each one
from the tub to the conveyor.
5)Administrative controls should be implemented whenever the AL is
exceeded.
According to the "NIOSH Lifting Guide", these should include worker
selection
criteria and placement strategies, and improved worker training in safe
lifting
techniques.  Training requires that the individual have personal knowledge
of:
The risk of injury in the job due to lifting in a careless or unskilled
fashion;
Lifting methods by which one can reduce unnecessary stress;  His or her
physical capacities to perform required lifts.
6)Provide employees with a tub dumper which will lift and tilt the tub
such that
employees can pull and slide chickens to the conveyor rather than lifting
each one
from the tub to the conveyor.
7)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced. Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(f) IQF Line:  Evaluation of these task indicates that employees are
exposed to the ergonomic
stressors of frequent lifts of the arm, repeated reach to the side and
lifts of pieces of frozen
chicken, and the job entails long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this work place may
include, but are not limited
to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2) Redesign the loading area such that the bag opening is at or below the
height
of
the conveyor.  This should allow transport of items to the bag without
repeatedly
lifting the arm to elevated postures.  All loading should be able to be
performed
with the elbows in close to the torso.  If small slide type mechanism were
installed it would be possible to pack the pieces into the bag by sliding
them to
the opening and would eliminate arm lifting and finger exertions from the
task.
3)Reduce the size of the conveyor or use diverters to push items to the
outside of
the conveyors such that employees can access materials while minimizing
reach
distances.
4)Where employees are required to stand for long periods of time provide
anti-
fatigue mats and/or shoes with well cushioned insteps and insoles.
5)Supply sit/stand stools to employees so they can adjust the positions
which they
work to minimize the amount of loading on any one muscle group.
6)Provide foot rests 4 to 6 inches above the floor allowing employees to
rest one
leg while standing.  Foot rests are believed to alleviate back stress as
well as
minimize foot fatigue.
7)Work-rest schedules should be developed and enforced.  Generally, a
minimum
of a 15 minute rest break at least every two hours is required.
(g)  Poly Bag Line  Evaluation of these tasks indicate that employees are
exposed to the
ergonomic stressors of frequent extended reaches, elbow abductions,
reaches behind the coronal
plane, lifting of individual birds, lifting of boxes packed with multiple
birds, and the job entails
long periods of standing.
Examples of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls
applicable to this work
place may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1)Jobs should be classified as to the nature and extent of exertion and a
rotation
schedule should be created that allows for as much variation as possible
in the
distribution and frequency of musculoskeletal activity.
2)Frequency data shows that employees are shoving chickens into plastic
bags at a
rate of about 1650 to 1700 repetitions per hour.  Repetitions in excess of
1500 to
2000 repetitions per hour have been shown to cause tendon and sheath
swelling.
Generally, repetitions should be kept below 1500 per hour especially for
employees who show symptoms of repetitive motion injuries. Employees who
show symptoms may have to slow down, switch hands or rotate on a more
frequent schedule.
3) Educate employees on the basics of body biomechanics and the importance
of
performing all tasks in an area which encompasses an arc of about 120
degrees
in front of the body.
4)Provide employees with an insertion device which has a power ram.
Employees
could load the bird into the device and the ram could push the bird into
the bag.
This would permit employees to assume more neutral body postures and would
limit the range of motion which employee must move through.
5)Tilt the device to nearly vertical such that employees can place the
bird into the
device and gravity will provide the force to push the bird into the bag.
6)Redesign the work station so employees have access to the parts to be
packaged
without reaching behind the coronal plane to reach them.
7)Use diverter bars to ensure that product is moved as close as possible to
employees thus minimizing reaches.
8)Reorient the machine used for bag crimping such that it is closer to the
conveyor
which will reduce the amount of reaching performed by the employee.
9)Redesign the machine such that it can be rotated about 180 degrees which
will
allow employees to access materials with either the left or right hand.
Alternation
of hands will permit periods of rest for affected employees.
10)Anything that will reduce the Horizontal distance load is held from
body, Vertical
distance at the point of origin, or Travel distance from origin to
destination will
reduce the chance of injury.
11)Use two employees whenever possible.  The use of two employees when

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 21, 1994

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 28, 1994

Penalty

Initial $35,000 · Current $10,000 Reduced

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

May 7, 1994

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994

Issued

Apr 4, 1994

Abate by

Apr 14, 1994