OSHA Inspection: C&C-HONOLULU BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

12-60-2(a)(3) HAR: Every employer shall provide safe work places and
practices by
elimination or reduction of existing or potential hazards. Elimination of
existing or potential
hazards by design, process substitution, or other appropriate methods is
preferred because it
eliminates the need for further employee protection. When elimination is
not feasible,
reduction of existing or potential hazards to acceptable levels, using
methods such as
engineering or administrative controls, isolation, or guarding, shall be
promptly used. When
these methods are inadequate to reach acceptable levels, personal
protective equipment shall
be provided and used.
Customer Service Department - The employer did not provide safe work
places and practices
by elimination or reduction of existing or potential hazards, in that
employees were required
to perform tasks involving hazards resulting in stressors that had caused,
were causing, or
likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These observed hazards
are
summarized
below: (a) Employees performing the job of Water Service Investigator
engaged in repetitive
bending and removal of water meter covers of various weights, ranging from
36 pounds to
101 pounds. Frequent bending, repetitive motions, and upper and lower
extremity exertions
associated with manually removing water meter covers, caused, aggravated,
or precipitated
pain in the back, legs, and wrists, strains of the back, legs, knees, and
arms, and other
musculoskeletal effects. (b) Employees assigned to call center or customer
service duties
including, but not limited to, multitasking between answering phone calls,
processing
payments and bills, repetitive typing and handwriting, data entry, and
reviewing meter
readouts were exposed to ergonomic hazards because the placement of the
components and
accessories of their computer workstations did not allow them to work in
neutral body
positions (i.e. top of the monitor at or just below eye level, wrists and
hands in line with
forearms, head and neck in line and balanced with torso, and elbows close
to body and
supported). Computer workstations that were not set up to neutral body
positions in which
employees performed repetitive computer-related tasks caused, aggravated,
or precipitated in
stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system.
The following are feasible means of abatement: 1) When possible, utilize
power equipment
rather than manual means to reduce ergonomic stresses; 2) Raise the height
of the level
which employees lift objects from and transfer to by using a pollard
puller to allow
employees to keep the load close to the body to minimize bending of the
torso; 3) Consider
administrative methods by having more employees work on busier days; 4)
Provide more
ergonomics training to employees regarding the correct postures and
practices of lifting,
pushing, bending, twisting, and how to avoid back and shoulder injuries;
5) Perform an
ergonomic assessment on computer workstations so that employees work in a
neutral
body
position, which reduces risks of MSDs. The following are important
considerations when
attempting to create a workstation conducive to neutral body positions:
top of the monitor at
or just below eye level; head and neck balanced and in-line with the
torso; elbows close to
the body and bent 90 and 120 degrees; back is fully supported with
appropriate lumbar
support when sitting vertical or leaning back slightly; wrists and hands
in-line with forearms;
adequate room for keyboard and mouse; and feet flat on the floor.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,650 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $50 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,200 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 9, 2015

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015