OSHA Inspection: HOBMAN CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Dec 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $360 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 involving repetitive motions resulting in stresses that
had caused, were causing, or were likely to cause cumulative trauma
disorders:
A) Employees wiring switches, assembling transformers and assembling
circuit boards in the main area were exposed to a hazard which was
causing or likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders. The employer
did not implement an effective control stategy to reduce or eliminate
such disorders. Workmen's Compensation Form and employee
questionnaires documented a pattern of repetitive motion injuries,
July 20, 1990.
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 cumulative
trauma disorders 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.
2) Medical management which includes accurate recordkeeping of CTDs.
The program should address early recognition, evaluation, and
referral of ctd cases, and should include conservative treatment
and conservative return to work. 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 developing CTDs,
symptoms of exposure, and how to prevent the occurrence of CTD. A
supervisor's training program should also be implemented to allow
recognition of the signs of CTDs and to reinforce the employer's
ergonomic program.
4) Hazard prevention and control which includes engineering, work
practice, and administrative controls, and personal protective
equipment where relavent.
A) Administrative controls are implemented which reduce the duration,
frequency, and severity of exposure to ergonomic stress. These
controls may include job rotation, reduction of repetitions, and
preventative maintenance of related equipment. Personal protective
equipment shall be evaluated to determine any contribution to
ergonomic stresses.
B) Work practice controls are implemented which include proper work
techniques, new employee conditioning, and monitoring and
modifications as necessary to minimize ergonomic stressors.
Examples of work practice controls applicable to this workplace include:
I) Employee rotation to the various jobs;
II) Evaluate employer work techniques and eliminate or change motions
that put increased stress on the employees' hands, wrists, elbows
and shoulders.
C) Engineering controls are designed by a qualified ergonomist and may
include work station redesign, tool and handle redesign, and change
of work methods. the goal of this program should be to make the job
fit the person.
Examples of engineering controls applicable to this workplace include:
I) Redesign the handles of the needle-nose pliers and wire cutters
to reduce wrist deviation.
II) Redesign work stations to move work to a lower level to eliminate
awkward elbow and arm positions, angle work so that access is
easier to the various wire attachment points.
III) Provide foot rests for employees whose feet cannot rest flat on
the floor.
IV) Locate the stack of transformers at the start of the assembly line
to an easily accessible area to eliminate the need to reach up and
back to get a part.
V) Pad all workbenches.
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 CUMULATIVE TRAUMA 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

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $135 Reduced

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $135 Reduced

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 4, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $45 Reduced

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $45 Reduced

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990

Hazardous substances 1592

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 31, 1990

Hazardous substances 1592

Issued

Oct 1, 1990

Abate by

Oct 16, 1990