OSHA Inspection: M.E. GLOBAL (FORMERLY M.E.I.)

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Aug 19, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

MN Stat. 182.653 subd. 2:  The employer did not furnish to each employee,
conditions of
employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards which
caused or were
likely to cause death or serious injury to employees; specifically the
employer did not adequately
control employee exposure to ergonomic stressors such as repetitive
motions, vibration, and
awkward postures in the finishing department.
The employer did not control employee exposure to ergonomic stressors in
the finishing
department. Employees in the finishing department are experiencing
musculoskeletal
injuries and illnesses to the upper extremities.  These ergonomic
stressors include
repetitive motion, vibration, and awkward positions.  Employees are
exposed to repetitive
motions from hand grinding, swing grinding, crane operation, and grappler
operation.
The employees are exposed to vibration from hand grinding, swing grinding,
and
grappler operation.  The employees work in awkward postures during hand
and swing
grinding.
Abatement Guidelines:
STEP 1(To be completed:9-18-01) Fully develop and implement an effective
ergonomics
program to reduce the incidence of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) with
the
following elements:
a)Management commitment and employee involvement - Management will
provide the organizational resources and motivating force necessary to
deal effectively with ergonomic  hazards. Employee involvement and
feedback through clearly established procedures are important in the
identification of existing and potential hazards and to the development and
implementation of effective abatement.
b)Analysis of the work station - Actively analyze both the work and the
work site, to anticipate and prevent harmful occurrences.  This will
include close scrutiny and tracking of injury and illness records to
identify
patterns of traumas or strains that may indicate the development of
cumulative trauma disorders. This will also include a review of past injury
and illness records to determine problem areas or tasks.
c)Medical management of the injured worker - Appropriate medical
treatment is sought where early development of CTD is recognized, and
the recommendations of good medical management are rigorously
followed, preventing recurrence of a disorder or re-exposure of a worker
to ergonomic hazards.
d)Worker training and education - The employees should be given formal
instruction  describing various hazards that are associated with their jobs
and with their equipment. This instruction includes the varieties of CTD,
and the means of prevention, causes, early symptoms, treatment of CTD
and proper tool use for both left- and right-handed workers.
Theinstruction is repeated for each employee as necessary, but at least
once
a year.
STEP 2(To be completed:10-18-01) Perform job task analysis for the hand
grinding,
swing grinding, crane operation and grappler operation jobs to determine an
effective rotation schedule.  The tasks should be broken down into the
physical
motions that are required to perform the task.  The job task analysis
shall be
performed by a technically qualified person with specific training in
ergonomics
and occupational medicine.  From the information gathered, identify the
movements in the job that are responsible for the repetitive trauma
illnesses
frequently associated with the jobs in that department.  Stressful
postures that
require overextension of the joints should be reduced or eliminated from
the job.
STEP 3(To be completed:11-17-01) Submit to the director a written detailed
plan
of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative measures to control the incidence of upper extremity CTDs as
referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target
dates for
the following actions which must be consistent with abatement dates
required by
this citation:
a)The ergonomic program as outlined in Step 1 above, including
management commitment, workstation analysis, training and education,
and medical management.
b)Evaluation of feasible engineering/administrative control options. These
feasible alternatives may include:
- Use of devices to assist in the handling of tools.
- Implementation of a maintenance schedule to ensure that all tools
and equipment are operating properly.
- Workstation redesign to limit awkward postures, excessive
reaching, and the use of force when reaching.
- Repositioning the workpiece to limit reaching
- Changes in the work flow that allow the employees to perform
a variety of tasks, thus resting critical muscle/tendon groups.
- Evaluate tools to ensure that the most effective tools that
minimize the stress to the operator are being used.
c)Procurement of selected tools, and implementation of the tool and
equipment maintenance program.
d)Selection of optimum worker rotation and establishment of the rotation
program.
e)Selection of optimum work station design and completion of design.
f)Procurement, installation and operation of selected work station
designs.
g)Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of work station.
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by
a
technically qualified person with specific training in ergonomic work
station
design.
STEP 4(To be completed:8-19-02) Abatement shall have been completed by the
implementation of an effective ergonomics program, feasible engineering
and/or
administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in
achieving
compliance.ss

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 9, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,050

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 2, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Aug 20, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $755 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Aug 26, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Aug 26, 2001

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Aug 20, 2001

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $125 Reduced

Issued

Aug 16, 2001

Abate by

Sep 13, 2001

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced