OSHA Inspection: TAMMS INDUSTRIES CO.

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Jun 21, 1991

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $330 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8301

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) Powder Plant, manual filling of the blenders, 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,
1989 and 1990 documented a pattern of musculoskeletal injuries.
b) Powder Plant, packing and palletizing of blended products, 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, 1989 and 1990 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 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 risk 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 adminstrative controls:
a) Administrative controls and 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:
I) Reduce the weight of the bags being packed (Instance B);
II) Change the lift from a one person lift to a multiple person lift
(Instance A and B); and
III) Train employees and supervisors to recognize and eliminate poor
lifting techniques that put stress on the back and arms such as
twisting and pulling (Instances A and B).
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:
I) Mechanical lifting aids may be used to transfer the bags of
material to the blender and also to transfer the bags from the
packer to the pallet (Instances A and B);
II) Redesign the work station so that awkward positions can be avoided
such as load location (Instances A and B); and
III) Lift tables can be used to decrease the vertical distance traveled
(Instances A and B).
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 MEASUSRES 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 pratice and engineering controls
as described in Items 4(a)-4(c), above.

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $225 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 exposed to
mechanical and/or engulfment hazards while working in a confined space:
A) Employees cleaning out the blenders were exposed to mechanical
and/or engulfment hazards in that a permit system and a confined
space entry program were not implemented, January 29, 1991.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is the establishment of a confined space entry program consisting
of at least the following:
1) Implementation of confined space entry permit procedures which lists
the precautions to be taken. The following "checklist" or precautions
should be included on the entry permit: hazard(s) identified;
testing and emergency procedures established; electrical equipment
de-energized and locked-out; contaminants diluted by purging or
ventilation; lifelines and safety belts utilized, and rescue
equipment in place and tested.
2) Conduct atmosphere monitoring and testing prior to entry and during
the time period that work is being performed in the confined space.
Testing shall be for oxygen content and toxic substance
concentrations.
3) Attach a safety belt and lifeline to the employee entering the
confined space.
4) Provide a trained standby employee outside of the blenders to
maintain communication with the confined space workers, unobstructed
lifelines, and procedures for obtaining immediate help in the event
of an emergency. Rescuers should be instructed and drilled in rescue
procedures.
Rescuers should be informed not to enter the confined area unless
others are standing by in the event that additional help is required.
the rescuer should be equipped with proper personal protective
equipment including a lifeline and safety belt.
5) Instruct employees as to the nature of the hazards involved and the
necessary precautions to be taken in regard to entry into the
blenders. Employees should be trained with emphassis on the hazards
associated with their work, the proper entry procedures to be
followed and the required personal protective equipment needed when
entry is made. Rescuers should be trained in artificial respiration
techniques and basic first-aid procedures.
6) Provide sufficient exhaust ventilation to keep the concentration of
toxic substances in the blenders to within permissable exposure
limits to ensure that ventilation exhaust ducts discharge clear of
working areas.
7) Provide readily available emergency standby equipmet consisting of
a safety line and/or harness of sufficient length and where the
internal atmosphere is oxygne deficient or contains toxic gases, a
self-contained breathing apparatus or a supplied-air respirator
should be utliized by the employee entering the confined space and
one available for rescue.
8) All entrances to confined spaces should be posted: "Danger, confined
space, entry by permit only".

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Apr 25, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Apr 25, 1991

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 22, 1991

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 7, 1991

Hazardous substances 9135

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Jul 21, 1991

Hazardous substances 9135

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Sep 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $140 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

Jun 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 7, 1991

Issued

Apr 22, 1991

Abate by

May 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $90