OSHA Inspection: TOMCO INC.

Issued

Apr 16, 1991

Abate by

Nov 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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 OF LIKELY TO CAUSE DEATH
OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM TO EMPLOYEES IN THAT EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED TO
PERFORM TASKS RESULTING IN STRESSORS THAT HAD CAUSED, WERE CAUSING, OR
WERE LIKELY TO CAUSE REPETITIVE MOTION AND STATIC MUSCLE STRAIN
INJURIES.
A) UNIT A, UNIT B, UNIT C, UNIT D, UNIT E, UNIT F. THE
EVALUATIONS OF THE TASKS IN THESE DEPARTMENTS WHICH INVOLVE
THE MANUFACTURING,  CLEANING, ASSEMBLING, TESTING AND PACKAGING
OF SMALL PLASTIC PARTS, INDICATED THAT EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO
HAZARDS WHICH WERE CAUSING OR LIKELY TO CAUSE REPTITIVE MOTION
TRAUMA INJURIES. THE EMPLOYER DID NOT IMPLEMENT AND EFFECTIVE
CONTROL STRATEGY TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SUCH INJURIES. THE INJURY
AND ILLNESS RECORDS FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 1988, 1989, 1990,
AND 1991 DOCUMENTED A PATTERN OF REPETITIVE MOTION TRAUMA
AND STATIC MUSCLE STRAIN INJURIES INCLUDING CARPAL TUNNEL
SYDROME, TENSOYNONITIS, TENDONITIS DEQUERVAINS, DISEASE, TRIGGER
FINGER AND OTHER CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS TO THE HANDS,
WRISTS, ARMS, SHOULDERS AND BACKS OF EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THESE
AREAS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ERGONOMICS MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING 4 ELEMENTS:
1) WORK SITE ANALYSIS TO RECOGNIZE AND IDENTIFY EXISTING REPETITIVE
MOTION HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE. THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE
DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF AN ERGONOMIC CHECKLIST AND EMPLOYEE
QUESTIONNAIRE. PERIODIC SURVEYS OF THE WORKPLACE SHALL BE CONDUCTED
AT LEAST ANNUALLY TO EVALUATE WORK PRACTICES AND ENGINEERING
CONTROLS. EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN THE ERGONOMIC PROGRAM SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGED THROUGH MECHANISMS SUCH AS A SAFETY COMMITTEE.
2) MEDICAL MANAGEMENT WHICH INCLUDES ACCURATE RECORDKEEPING OF
REPETITIVE MOTION INJURIES. THE PROGRAM SHOULD ADDRESS EARLY
RECOGNITION, EVALUATION, AND REFERRAL OF REPETITIVE MOTION TRAUMA
INJURIES. 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 OF THE TRAINING. RE-TRAINING SHALL BE
DONE ANNUALLY, OR AS OPERATIONS CHANGE. TRAINING SHALL ADDRESS
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB, THE RISKS OF REPETITIVE MOTION
TASKS, AND HOW TO PREVENT THE REPETITIVE MOTION TRAUMA INJURIES.
EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED ON THE PROPER USE OF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED
TOOLS. A SUPERVISORS' TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED TO
ALLOW RECOGNITION OF MANUAL LIFTING HAZARDS AND TO REINFORCE THE
EMPLOYER'S ERGONOMICS PROGRAM.
4) HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL WHICH INCLUDES ENGINEERING CONTROLS.
REDESIGN TO WORK AREAS AND STATIONS SHALL BE CONDUCTED TO REDUCE
UNNECESSARY MOVEMENTS, STATIC MUSCLE POSTURES AND REPETITIVE TRAUMA
PRODUCING MOTIONS.
EXAMPLES OF CONTROLS APPLICABLE TO THIS WORKPLACE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTED CORRECTIONS:
(I) VAN DORN #3 EXTRUDER
-RAISE AND REPOSTION PARTS TUB SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND.
A CONVEYOR CAN BE USED.
-REDUCE THE REACH OF EMPLOYEE BY POSITIONING EMPLOYEE CLOSER TO THE
MACHINE SHE IS WORKING ON.
-IMPROVE LEG POSITION OF EMPLOYEE BY PROVIDING A CHAIR THAT CAN BE
REPOSITIONED.
(II) NEWBURY 125 ALTERNATOR PRINTED CIRCUIT
-IMPROVE WORK POSITION OF EMPLOYEE BY REDESIGNING WORK STATION.
REPOSITION EMPLOYEE AND MACHINERY TO PLACE EMPLOYEE IN A NATURAL
POSITION. PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE STOOLS AND A TABLE THAT ALLOWS KNEE
ROOM.
-PROVIDE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED TOOLS, SUCH AS PLIERS AND KNIVES.
(III)VAN DORN 300 OPEN TOP RESERVIOR JOB
-INSTALL THUMB CONTROLS WHICH REQUIRE LESS THUMB PRESSURE.
- REPOSITION PARTS CHUTE SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND.
- REDUCE EMPLOYEES' REACH TO PRESS BY REPOSITIONING PRESS.
-REPOSITION TESTING DEVICE SO THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS A MORE
COMFORTABLE REACH TO THE DEVICE.
-REPOSITION THE SMALL PARTS BIN. A CONVEYOR CAN BE USED TO MORE
PARTS.
(IV) SAGINAW GEAR JOB
-REPOSITION PARTS CHUTE TO WAIST HEIGHT SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT
HAVE TO BEND. A CONVEYOR CAN BE USED.
-INSTALL CONVEYOR TO CARRY PARTS TO SECONDARY PART OF THE JOB.
-PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE STOOL AT SPIN WELDER POSITION SO THAT EMPLOYEES
SIT IN A NATURAL POSITION.
(V) VAN DORN #10 BATTERY COVER OPERATION
-INSTALL AUTOMATIC PARTS EJECTION WHICH WILL DISPENSE PARTS
TO A CONVEYOR OR A WAIST HIGH PARTS BIN TRAY.
-REPOSITION PARTS TUB SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND.
-ELIMINATE CONSTANT ROTATION OF BODY BY MOVING WORK TABLE SO THAT
IT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE MACHINE.
-MOVE FINISHED PARTS BOX TO END OF WORK TABLE.
-PROVIDE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED TOOLS TO REMOVE GATES OR FLASHES.
(VI) VAN DORN #12 18 DEGREE OPERATION - UNIT D
-INSTALL ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED PRESS CONTROLS TO ELIMIATE PRESSURE
REQUIRED AND POSTIION OF HANDS WHILE OPERATING PRES (HYDRO WELD).
-REPOSITION PARTS TUBS SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND.
A CONVEYOR CAN BE USED.
-PROVIDE AIR OPERATED CLIPPERS FOR CUTTING GATES.
(VII) VAN DORN #16 SAG. PART 26020089
-REPOSITION PARTS TUB SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND. A
CONVEYOR CAN BE USED.
-DEVELOP BETTER SYSTEM OF CLEANING FLASH OFF OF PARTS.
-CHANGE LEAK TESTING OPERATION TO DIP OR AIR OPERATED SPRAY TUBES.
-ELIMATE NEED TO OPERATE SQUEEZE PUMP DEVICE. PARTS COULD BE DIPPED.
-INSTALL AIR ASSISTED PART CLAMPING DEVICE.
-CHANGE POSTION OF BOX SO EMPLOYEE HAS A MORE NATURAL REACH.
(VIII) C UNIT
-RAISE WORK TABLE TO PROPER WORKING HEIGHT FOR EMPLOYEES.
-TURN WORK TABLE TO MAKE IT PERPENDICULAR TO MACHINE.
- REPOSITION PARTS TUB SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO BEND.
A CONVEYOR CAN BE USED.

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Apr 1, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Feb 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Feb 4, 1991

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Jan 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Mar 1, 1991

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $550 Reduced

Issued

Jan 23, 1991

Abate by

Mar 1, 1991