OSHA Inspection: KARCHER ESTATES

Issued

Feb 9, 1993

Abate by

Mar 26, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $2,750

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
the hazard of biomechanical (musculoskeletal) injuries  in  the  Nursing
Department where lifting, bending and turning are required:
(a)  Nurses  routinely  lift, turn, and assist patients
unaided and without mechanical lifting devices.
(b)  The current Back Injury Prevention Program was not
effective  in  preventing  excessive back injuries
as  evidenced  by  the LWDI's for Nursing back
injuries.
%%
Among  others  one  feasible  and acceptable abatement method to correct
this hazard is to institute an effective Back Injury Prevention Program.
An effective program may include elements  such  as, but not limited to,
the following:
Step 1:
Inclusion of accident prevention in the  personnel
performance standards of employees and supervisory
staff.
Evaluate  the back injury reports to monitor rates
and causes.
Provide effective training on a frequent basis for
prevention of back injuries.
Provide  an effective awareness program concerning
back injury prevention.
Provide  a  fitness  and/or  wellness  program for
those employees at risk for back injuries.
Provide  mandatory  SOP's to prevent back injuries
while physically handling patients.
Provide  an  effective  rehabilitation program for
injured workers.
Step 2:
Set  the dates when each element of the above
Program
will be implemented.
Step 3:
Submit  to  the  Area Director a written, detailed
plan  of  abatement outlining the Back Injury
Prevention
Program  and  dates  of implementation of
each element.