2002 - 08/29/2002 - OSHA INVITES COMMENTS ON FIRST SET OF ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES

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OSHA News Release
2002 - 08/29/2002 - OSHA INVITES COMMENTS ON FIRST SET OF ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES

OSHA News Release - Table of Contents

TRADE NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, August 29, 2002
Contact: Frank Meilinger/Bill Wright
(202) 693-1999

OSHA INVITES COMMENTS ON FIRST SET OF ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES
Guidelines for Nursing Homes on Agency's Website August 30

WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is scheduled to announce in tomorrow's Federal Register a notice informing the public that the first set of industry-specific ergonomic guidelines -- Guidelines for Nursing Homes -- is available for public comment. The guidelines will be available August 30 on OSHA's website at www.osha.gov/ergonomics (select "guidelines").

"These guidelines are the result of an extensive and cooperative process involving a wide-ranging, inclusive review of both scientific information and existing ergonomic practices and programs in the nursing home," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "We also conducted one-on-one meetings with major stakeholder groups to gather information on best practices that have been successfully used in the nursing home industry to ensure we are recommending practical solutions that will work in the real world."

The guidelines are in three parts, with a reference list at the end:

Management Practices discusses the importance of management commitment and employee participation in ergonomics training, occupational health management of musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomics program evaluation;
Worksite Analysis discusses assessment of resident handling tasks and activities other than resident handling; and
Control Methods contains illustrations that demonstrate various methods to control common ergonomic stressors.

The guidelines are intended to provide practical solutions for reducing ergonomic-related injuries and illnesses in nursing homes. They will not be used for enforcement purposes. Draft guidelines are being developed for other industries and will also be available for comment.

Interested parties must submit written comments by September 30. Individuals are required to submit their intent to participate in a one-day stakeholder meeting by September 19. (Note: The meeting will be held in the Washington, D.C. area; location and date to be announced following comment period). Written comments (10 pages or fewer) and intent to participate can be faxed to OSHA's Docket Office at (202) 693-1648 or sent electronically to http://ecomments.osha.gov. Three copies of written comments and attachments, or one copy of intent to participate must be submitted to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. GE2002-1, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. Individuals who wish to comment who do not have Internet access can request a printed copy of the guidelines by calling OSHA toll-free at 1-800-321-OSHA.

Further information on submitting comments can be obtained by calling the Docket Office at (202) 693-2350.

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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents


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