OSHA Inspection: R.E. DIETZ COMPANY

Issued

Dec 16, 1988

Abate by

Dec 18, 1989

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $640

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:
a) Employees were exposed to the hazard of repetitive hand operations
in Dept. 88 Assembly during the assembling of automotive lights and
in Dept. 40 Press Room during lathe operation. These operations can
result in repetitive motion trauma disorders such as but not limited
to carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts, and tenosynovitis causing
employee lost work time and/or permanent disability.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct his hazard is to:
STEP 1: Institute a training program to inform employees of the
hazards of repetitive motion and work practices to reduce
hazards. Increase rotation of employees with known medical
problems to operations not associated with repetitive motion
trauma.
STEP 2: Provide an ergonomic evaluation by a qualified person of all
operations covered by this citation.  The evaluation shall
include at least:
a) Redesign of work station, such as the angle at which parts are
grabbed, the angle at which automatic screw drivers are held.
b) Changes in work operations, such as install more small presses.
c) Automation of lathe.
STEP 3: Modify work method to reduce worker stress.
STEP 4: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
any or all of the measures outlined above and by verification
of the effectiveness of the measures taken through and
evaluation of the ergonomic health of the employees.