In late 1993, Shelby Williams was cited by Tennessee OSHA for not having an ergonomics program. Everyone in management was slightly shocked. Not only were there no ergonomics requirements in the regulations, we did not have a high rate of this type of disorders. In fact, we had done quite a few things to lessen cumulative trauma injuries. But we did not have a written program, so we were cited under the General Duty Clause. At this point, management decided we would use it as an opportunity to develop a workable program rather than fight the citation.
As I mentioned above, we had not ignored any type of injuries that our employees had experienced. Prior to TOSHA's visit we had recognized the potential of repetitive motion injuries in our upholstery operations, not only carpal tunnel syndrome, but lower back injuries as well. We had reorganized this department. But more important, we custom-designed and fabricated an upholstery table which could be raised and lowered with a hydraulic foot pump similar to the way a barber's chair is adjusted. This allowed each upholsterer to adjust the height of their table to their own stature, preference, as well as the size of the particular chair they were working on at the time.