OSHA Inspection: SUPERMARKET SERVICES CORPORATION

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Feb 8, 1992

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $432 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
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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) Super Market Services, Inc., employees selecting and stocking
non perishable items, December 7, 1990. The evaluation of this
manual lifting task indicates that employees are exposed to a
hazard which is causing or likely to cause musculoskeletal injuries.
The employer did not implement an effective control strategy to
reduce or eliminate such injuries. the injury and illness records
for 1988 and 1989 documented a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries.
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 leastannually
to evaluate work practices and engineering controls. Employee
participation in the ergonomic program should be encourage 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 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 included which reduce the duration,
frequency, and severity of exposure to manual lifting hazards.
These controls may include job rotation, reduction of repititions,
multiple person lifts, and preventative maintenanceof 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:
I) Set a limit on weight of individual lifts to be lifted by one
employee;
II) Splitting of heavy item cases prior to transfer from selecting
slots to flow through racks;
III) Limited weight of goods slotted in second tier;
IV) Limited height of palletized goods for second tier selection;
V) Rotate pallets when front items have been selected from each
slot.
c) Engineering controls are designed by a qualified ergonomist andmay
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:
I) Place heavy items on floor so pallets can be accessed from
all sides;
II) Use scissor jacks for heaviest items to be selected.
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 15, 1991

Abate by

Mar 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $486 Reduced

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Mar 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $378 Reduced

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Mar 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $270 Reduced

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Mar 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $162 Reduced

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Mar 30, 1991

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Apr 14, 1991

Issued

Mar 15, 1991

Abate by

Apr 14, 1991