OSHA Inspection: MERITA DIVISION OF INTERSTATE BAKERY CORP.

Issued

Aug 26, 1993

Abate by

Feb 28, 1994

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 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 in that
employees are exposed
to undue repetitive motion traumas:
a.   On or about March 3, 1993, in the Route Accounting department, the
employer had reports
of cumulative trauma illnesses from repetitive motion.  This trauma was
due to repeated hand
and wrist exertions and from continued keying by the keyers causing
aggravating or
precipitating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, numbness of the hands and elbows,
and strains of the
hands and elbows.
Among other methods, severa; feasible and acceptable methods to correct
this hazard are:
1.  Provide the workstations with chairs that have arm supports, reducing
the height of the
key-in machines or placing them on an adjustable work surface that would
place the arms and
wrists in a 'neutral' position to reduce excess stressors, wrist rest
pads for the keying hand, and
some form of document holders.
2.  Institute a strict schedule of frequent short breaks in addition to
the lunch break and ensure
that these times can be adhered to.
3.  Implement an ongoing medical surveillance program involving
ergonomics and continue to
schedule experts in repetitive motion injury prevention and therapy to
give presentations or
training in the prevention and early recognition of cumulative trauma

Issued

Aug 26, 1993

Abate by

Sep 8, 1993