OSHA Inspection: C.J. VITNER & COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Mar 9, 1992

Abate by

Oct 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 repetitive packaging and lifting tasks resulting
in stressors that had caused, were causing, or were likely to cause
musculoskeletal disorders:
a. Potato Chip Packaging - The evaluation of this manual packaging
task indicates that employees are exposed to a hazard which is
causing or is likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders.  The
employer did not implement an effective control strategy to reduce
or eliminate such disorders. The injury and illness records for
1990, 1991 and 1992 and information obtained through employee
interviews documented a pattern of musculoskeletal disorders.
c. Popcorn Packaging - The evaluation of this manual packaging
task indicates that employees are exposed to a hazard which is
causing or is likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders.  The
employer did not implement an effective control strategy to reduce
or eliminate such disorders.  The injury and illness records for
1990, 1991 and 1992 and information obtained through employee
interviews documented a pattern of musculoskeletal disorders.
d. Machine Operators - The evaluation of lifting tasks indicates
that employees are exposed to a hazard which is causing or is
likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders.  The employer did not
implement an effective control strategy to reduce or eliminate
such disorders.  The injury and illness records for 1990, 1991 and
1992 and information obtained through employee interviews
documented
a pattern of musculoskeletal disorders.
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 elements:
4. Hazard prevention and control which includes engineering, work
practice and administrative controls.
a. Administrative controls are implemented which reduce the
duration, frequency and severity of exposure to packaging and
lifting hazards.  These controls may include job rotation and
multiple person lifts when handling the larger rolls of bag
material.
b. Work practice controls are implemented which include
reduction
of repetitive movements, proper work techniques and proper
lifting of loads.  Examples of work practice controls
applicable
in this workplace include:
1. Have workers minimize the amount of finger and wrist
movement.
3. Avoid having employees reach overhead when stacking
boxes.
5. Reduce the intensity of the packaging job and/or provide
greater rest allowances to reduce fatigue and stress on
the musculoskeletal system.
c. Engineering controls are designed by a qualified ergonomist
and may include work-station redesign.  The goal of this
program should be to make the job fit the worker.  Examples
of engineering controls applicable to this workplace include:
2. Use a conveyor system to deliver bags to the packaging
station and redesign of the station to minimize the distance
and extent of arm, wrist and finger flexion.
3. Have the height of the workstation adjustable so that
the worker can adjust the work to reduce static muscle
strain.
Step 2: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of
abatement
including a schedule for the implementation of the
administrative, work practice and engineering controls as
detailed in items 4(a)-4(c).
ALL PROPOSED MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH PARTICULAR
USE BY A PERSON TRAINED IN THE EVALUATION OF WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS WHICH CAUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS.  NINETY DAY
PROGRESS REPORTS ARE DUE DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.
Step 3: Implementation of administrative, work practice and engineering
controls.

Issued

Mar 9, 1992

Abate by

Mar 23, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Mar 9, 1992

Abate by

Mar 12, 1992

Issued

Mar 9, 1992

Abate by

Apr 8, 1992

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $200