OSHA Inspection: BENCO DENTAL SUPPLY COMPANY

Issued

Mar 31, 1993

Abate by

Jul 2, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,050 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 lifting tasks resulting in stresses that had
caused, were causing, or were likely to cause musculoskeletal
injuries:
a.)  Benco Dental Supply; Installers loading dental chair
(stripped) at the main warehouse loading dock and
unloading at the showhouse - the evaluation of this
manual lifting task indicates that employees are
exposed to a hazard which is causing or likely to
cause musculoskeletal injury.  The employer did not
implement an effective  control strategy to reduce
or eliminate such injury.  The injury and illness
records for 1991 and 1992 documented a pattern of
musculoskeletal injuries, February 9, 1993.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to correct this hazard is the
implementation of an ergonomics management program
consisting of the following four elements.
(1)  Worksite analysis to recognize and identify
existing manual lifting hazards in the
workplace.  This analysis should include
development and use of an ergonomic checklist
and employee questionnaire.  Periodic surveys
of the worksite shall be conducted at least
annually to evaluate work practices and
engineering controls.  Employee participation
in the ergonomic program should be encouraged
through a mechanism such as a safety committee.
(2)  Medical management which includes accurate
recordkeeping of manual lifting injuries.  The
program should address recognition, evaluation,
treatment and referral of lifting cases.
Systematic worksite review by the medical team
should also be included in the program.
(3)  Training and education for exposed employees,
including methods to evaluate the effectiveness
of the training.  Re-training should be done
annually, or as operations change.  Training
should address hazards associated with the job,
the risks of manual material handling, and how
to prevent lifting injuries.  A supervisor's
training program should also be implemented to
allow recognition of manual lifting hazards,
and to reinforce the employer's ergonomic
program.
(4)  Hazard prevention and control which includes
engineering, work practices and administrative
controls:
(a)  Administrative controls are implemented
which reduce the duration, frequency, and
severity of exposure to manual lifting
hazards.  These controls may include job
rotation, reduction of repetitions, multiple
person lifts, and preventative maintenance
of related equipment.
(b)  Work practice controls are implemented which
include proper work techniques, new employee
conditioning, proper placement of loads,
and reduction of weight lifted.
Examples of work practice controls
applicable to this workplace include:
Install mobile or fixed lifting devices
at the warehouse.  Install mobile/fixed
lifting equipment in the employee's work vans.
vans.
(c)  Engineering controls are designed by a
qualified ergonomist and may include work
station redesign, tool and handle redesign,
and use of mechanical lifting aids.  The
goal of this program should be to make the
job fit the person.
Examples of engineering controls applicable
in this workplace include:
Fixed or mobile hoist/crane selection of
personell of same (near) height and others.
ABATEMENT SCHEDULE
Step 1 - Implementation of an ergonomics program for worksite analysis,
medical management, and training and education, as detailed in
items 1-3, above.
Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of the
administrative,
work practice and engineering controls as detailed in items 4(a)
- 4(c).
ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH
PARTICULAR USE BY A PERSON TRAINED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS WHICH CAUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS.  SIXTY (60)
DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.
Step 3 - Implementation of administrative, work practice and engineering
controls as described in items 4(a) - 4(c), above.

Issued

Mar 31, 1993

Abate by

Apr 5, 1993

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Mar 31, 1993

Abate by

Apr 8, 1993

Issued

Mar 31, 1993

Abate by

Apr 5, 1993