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Printing Instructions |
Four-Pronged, Comprehensive Approach
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In April 2002, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao unveiled a comprehensive
approach to ergonomics designed to quickly and effectively address
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace. OSHA developed a four-pronged
ergonomics strategy to meet this goal through a combination of industry-specific
and task-specific guidelines, outreach, enforcement, and research.
Since the ergonomics strategy was announced, OSHA has made significant progress
in each of the four areas of emphasis to reduce ergonomic injuries. Some
highlights of OSHA’s accomplishments are summarized below.
Guidelines
- OSHA’s first ergonomic guidelines were released on March 13, 2003, and
covered the nursing home industry; the guidelines followed public comment and
a stakeholder meeting.
- OSHA published final Ergonomic Guidelines for Retail Grocery Stores on May
28, 2004 following public comment and a stakeholder meeting.
- OSHA published final Ergonomic Guidelines for the Poultry Processing
Industry on September 2, 2004 following public comment. No Stakeholder meeting
was held for this guideline because stakeholders felt that their written
comments were sufficient to communicate their concerns.
- OSHA published final Ergonomic Guidelines for Shipyards on March 7, 2008
following public comment. No Stakeholder meeting was held for this guideline
because stakeholders felt that their written comments were sufficient to
communicate their concerns.
- OSHA is encouraging other industries to develop ergonomic guidance to meet
their specific needs. For example, through their alliance, OSHA and the
American Apparel and Footwear Association developed voluntary ergonomics
guidelines for the apparel and footwear industry.
- As part of their alliances with OSHA, several printing industry
associations and the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., are developing
ergonomic guidance for their respective industries.
Enforcement
- OSHA has issued 19 General Duty Clause violations for ergonomic hazards,
18 of which have been settled and one remains open. OSHA continues to evaluate
workplace ergonomics.
- From January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2007 OSHA conducted 4,138
ergonomics inspections encompassing a variety of industries. Of these, 1,225
inspections were conducted in nursing and personal care facilities under a
National Emphasis Program from July 2002 through the end of September 2003.
- A cross-cutting OSHA ergonomics response team evaluates and screens all
inspection cases prior to issuing a citation.
- OSHA sent 593 hazard alert letters to notify employers of ergonomic
problems in their facilities. Follow-up inspections at a sample of these
facilities are being conducted to evaluate the progress of response to the
hazard alert letters.
- Four Regional Emphasis Programs and four Local Emphasis Programs are
underway across the country, focusing on ergonomic hazards in meat processing,
health care, garment factories, and warehousing industries.
- OSHA named ergonomic coordinators for each of its 10 regional offices to
assist staff, employers, employees, and other stakeholders with ergonomic
issues.
- OSHA currently has five ergonomists throughout the country—in regional
offices, the national office, the OSHA Training Institute and the Salt Lake
Technical Center.
- The OSHA Training Institute has added a class to teach field personnel
policies and procedures for ergonomics enforcement under the OSHA’s
four-pronged approach.
Outreach and Assistance
- OSHA currently has 38 active Strategic Partnerships with an emphasis on
ergonomics.
- OSHA has signed 32 national ergonomic Alliances and 29 regional ergonomic
Alliances which are working with OSHA on a number of projects. Several
Alliance Program participants, including the American Apparel and Footwear
Association, the Airline Industry Alliance and the National Telecommunications
Safety Panel have developed industry-specific ergonomics manuals. Abbott and
The Dow Chemical Company helped develop several ergonomic case studies.
- OSHA’s Web site features eight eTools that address ergonomics for a number
of industries and occupations, including baggage handling, beverage delivery,
computer workstations, electrical contractors, grocery warehousing, health
care, poultry processing and sewing. Through the Alliance Program, the Graphic
Arts Coalition, which includes representatives from several printing industry
trade associations, is working with OSHA to develop an ergonomic eTool for the
printing industry.
- OSHA staff serves as adjunct members on the American Industrial Hygiene
Association’s Ergonomics Committee.
- Voluntary Protection Program sites are required to identify and control
hazards, including ergonomic hazards, as part of their overall safety and
health management system.
- The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers conducted 38 ergonomic
classes and seminars for 711 students in FY2007 and have scheduled several
ergonomics classes in FY2008.
- OSHA provided ergonomic workstation training and evaluation assistance to
several government agencies, including the IRS and the Defense Contract Audit
Agency.
- OSHA’s Ergonomics Safety and Health Topics web page reflects OSHA’s
four-pronged strategy to reduce ergonomic injuries. The web page provides
information on ergonomics guidelines, enforcement actions, the National
Advisory Committee on Ergonomics, eTools, cooperative programs, a library of
more than 40 success stories from a variety of industries, and case studies.
- OSHA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Small Business
Administration, Office of Advocacy, and the U.S. Small Business
Administration, Office of the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory
Enforcement Ombudsman, to distribute ergonomics information to small
businesses.
- OSHA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce jointly developed a web cast on the
willingness and ability of businesses to adopt and implement ergonomics
policies.
- In FY 2004, OSHA last awarded training grants in FY 2004 to three
organizations to develop and conduct training on ergonomics in the retail
grocery, nursing home, and auto supply manufacturing industries. OSHA has
included Ergonomics in Foundries as a topic in the 2008 solicitation for
grants.
National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics
- OSHA established a 15-member National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE),
with representatives from industry, academia, labor, and the legal and medical
professions. More than 250 people were nominated in response to a Federal
Register announcement seeking nominations to NACE.
- The first NACE meeting took place in January 2003. Subsequent meetings
were held in May 2003, September 2003, January 2004 and May 2004, and November
2004.
- Discussion at the meetings has centered on task-specific guidelines,
research needs and efforts, and outreach and assistance methods to communicate
the value of ergonomics.
- Based upon a recommendation of the NACE research discussion group, OSHA
sponsored a symposium entitled Musculoskeletal and Neurovascular Disorders -
The State of Research Regarding Workplace Etiology and Prevention for
published researchers on work-related musculoskeletal disorders to examine
their studies and the methodologies used. This symposium was held in
conjunction with the January 2004 NACE meeting.
- The NACE Charter ended in November 2004. A
complete list of NACE’S recommendations are available.
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