OSHA Inspection: C & D FOODS INC

Issued

Jan 23, 1986

Abate by

Jan 25, 1987

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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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:
a) The employer failed to render employment and a place of employment
free from a recognized hazard causing or likely to cause serious
physical harm in that employees working in the processing of ducks
as neck cutters, trimmers, oil sackers, graders, cryovac operators,
were exposed to undue repetitive motion trauma. This trauma was due
to aggravating and precipitating carpal tunnel syndrome and
tendonitis.
Feasible controls include, but are not limited to:
1) Use ergonomically designed hand tools such as pistol grip or right
angled knife handles, ergonomically designed scissors designed to reduce
hand strain and scraper with ergonomically designed handles.
2) Provide wrist supports at the process line where possible to rest in
between work activities.
3) Provide warm wash water to greasy or cold jobs to gain a better grip
and aid in comfort to hands.
4) Change the design of cryovac to gain a bigger more effective
gripping surface on the vacuum hose.
5) Rotate employees where possible to reduce wrist strain .
6) Provide pre-employment information to notify prospective employees
about repetitive nature of the work and determine previous medical
information pertinent to this work problem.
7) Train employees how to perform their job functions with the least
strain on their writs and hands. This would be mandatory with any
new ergonomically designed tools.