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A
Four-Pronged, Comprehensive Approach
Effective ergonomics is part of OSHA's overall
strategy for reducing workplace injuries and illnesses. Injuries and
illnesses related to ergonomics, often called musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs),
are on the decline in the workplace; OSHA's goal is to accelerate that
decline.
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao made a commitment in April 2001 to develop
a comprehensive approach to ergonomics. To fulfill that commitment, OSHA
conducted three public forums around the country in July 2001, collecting
368 written comments and hearing 100 speakers; met with stakeholder groups
and individuals to discuss various views on the issue; analyzed the
comments and recommendations; reviewed relevant and helpful information
from other sources, including the past ergonomics docket; studied the
various options; and researched various alternative approaches.
Out of that work, OSHA developed a four-pronged comprehensive approach to
ergonomics that the agency believes will quickly and effectively address
MSDs in the workplace. This approach is based on the principles outlined
by the Secretary for an effective approach to ergonomics: preventing
injuries; using sound science in formulating a strategy; providing
incentives for cooperation between OSHA and employers; maximizing
flexibility and avoiding a one-size-fits all approach; creating a feasible
program, especially for small businesses; and ensuring clarity, including
short, simple, common-sense solutions.
The four segments of OSHA's strategy for successfully reducing injuries
and illnesses from MSDs in the workplace are:
Guidelines
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OSHA will develop
industry-or-task-specific guidelines for a number of industries based
on current incidence rates and available information about effective
and feasible solutions. This work will take into account guidelines
and best practices already developed, including OSHA's own Meatpacking
Guidelines, issued in 1990.
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OSHA will encourage other
industries to develop ergonomic guidelines to meet their own specific
needs.
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The goal is to encourage industry
to implement measures as quickly as possible to reduce work-related
MSDs. OSHA expects to start releasing guidelines in selected
industries in six months.
Enforcement
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OSHA's primary goal is the
reduction of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
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Employers must keep their
workplaces free from recognized serious hazards under the OSH Act's
General Duty Clause. This includes ergonomic hazards.
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OSHA will not focus its enforcement
efforts on employers who have implemented effective ergonomic programs
or who are making good-faith efforts to reduce ergonomic hazards.
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OSHA will conduct inspections for
ergonomic hazards and issue citations under the General Duty Clause
and issue ergonomic hazard alert letters where appropriate. OSHA will
conduct follow-up inspections or investigations within 12 months of
certain employers who receive ergonomic hazard alert letters.
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OSHA has announced a National
Emphasis Program in the nursing home industry to guide inspections of
nursing homes, and to focus significant efforts on addressing
ergonomic hazards related to patient lifting.
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OSHA will conduct specialized
training of appropriate staff on ergonomic hazards and abatement
methods and designate 10 regional ergonomic coordinators and involve
them in enforcement and outreach.
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OSHA will address ergonomic hazards
in its national emphasis program, notifications, and inspections of
employers in the Site Specific Targeting program, and will offer
assistance to those employers in this group who have a high percentage
of MSDs.
Outreach
and Assistance
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OSHA will provide assistance to
businesses, particularly small businesses, and help them proactively
address ergonomic issues in the workplace. OSHA will also provide
advice and training on the voluntary guidelines and implementation of
a successful ergonomics program.
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OSHA will target its Fiscal Year
2002 training grants to address ergonomics and other agency
priorities, including support for the development of ergonomic
training materials and the direct training of employers and employees
to promote a better understanding of ergonomic risks and the
prevention of MSDs.
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OSHA will develop a complete and
comprehensive set of compliance assistance tools, including
Internet-based training and information, to support understanding of
guidelines and how to proactively define and address ergonomic
problems.
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OSHA will provide courses at its 12
nonprofit educational partner organizations, known as Education
Centers, for private sector and other federal agency personnel, and
will develop and utilize distance learning to make training materials
available to a wider audience.
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OSHA will focus on developing new
partnerships to implement and highlight the value and effectiveness of
voluntary ergonomic guidelines and will use its existing partnership
programs to facilitate the development of guidelines. Voluntary
Protection Programs (VPP) sites will be used to help model effective
ergonomic solutions. VPP volunteers will mentor other worksites, and
provide training assistance.
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OSHA will also develop new
recognition programs to highlight the achievements of worksites with
exemplary or novel approaches to ergonomics.
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As part of the Department of
Labor's cross-agency commitment to protecting immigrant workers,
especially those with limited English proficiency, the new ergonomics
plan includes a specialized focus to help Hispanic and other immigrant
workers, many of whom work in industries with high ergonomic hazard
rates.
Research
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While there is a large body of
research available on ergonomics, there are many areas where
additional research is necessary, including gaps identified by the
National Academy of Science (NAS). OSHA will serve as a catalyst to
encourage researchers to design studies in areas where additional
information would be helpful.
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OSHA will charter an advisory
committee that will be authorized to, among other things, identify
gaps in research related to the application of ergonomics and
ergonomic principles to the workplace. This advisory committee will
report its findings to the Assistant Secretary and to the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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OSHA will work closely with NIOSH
and through the National Occupational Research Agenda process to
encourage research in needed areas.
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