OSHA Inspection: KEYDATA SYSTEMS, INC.

Issued

Jun 24, 1994

Abate by

Sep 25, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8302

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: CUMULATIVE TRAUMA
DISORDERS
a)Key Data Systems, Beaver, WV - Employees were engaged
in repetitive motion operations, were subjected to
excessive muscular stress to the shoulders, arms,
wrists, and hands, and which resulted in an
Occupational Disease, Repetitive Motion Trauma
manifesting itself in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and
related abnormalities.  A program addressing bio
engineering and ergonomic aspects of this operation
imposing undue muscular stress on employees had not
been implemented in order to limit employee exposure to
this hazard.  Factors contributing to this situation
included but were not limited to: work method, design
layout and machine specifications which did not
incorporate ergonomic considerations, on or about
4/26/94.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD
TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
A)Provide keyboards with adjustable heights.
B) Provide video screens and document holders with adjustable
heights.
C)Provide rounded cornered tables.
D)Provide arm rests, wrist rests, and foot rests as needed.
E)Provide seats with seat pans that are adjustable for height
and angle.
F)Enforce a more frequent stretch break schedule.
Step1.Submit to OSHA Area Director a written detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation
of engineering and/or administrative measures to
control employee exposure to hazardous conditions as
referred in this Citation. This plan shall include, at
a minimum target dates for the following actions which
should be consistent with the dates required by this
citation.
a)Evaluation of the extent and location of the
hazard source.
b)Evaluation of control measure options.
c)Selection of optimum control measures.
d)Determination of control measure design.
e)Ordering and delivery of equipment and materials.
f)Installation of control measures.
g)Training of employees in the proper operation and
maintenance of the newly implemented control
measures.
h)Assurances of effective performance of control
measures.
All purposed control measures shall be approved for
each particular use by a competent industrial
hygienist,  engineer or other technically qualified
person or the company may follow the guide lines issued
by another credible source such as American National
Standards Institute # 100 - 1988, section 8.7.  Ninety
(90) day progress reports are required during the
abatement period.
Correction shall be completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and
their effectiveness at achieving compliance verified.