News Notes

January/February 2001

OSHA, Ergo & You

by: Jeff Vincent, CITEC Field Engineer

OSHA's much talked about new Ergonomics Standard has arrived. Now what? With pages and pages of rules to the new Ergonomics standard, you need to be aware of certain critical elements for compliance now and in the months ahead.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has amended Part 1910 of title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations to add section 1910.900 - Ergonomics program standard. All general industry employers, including the U.S. Postal Service, are covered in the final standard.

The goal of an ergonomics program is to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) developed by workers when a major part of their jobs involve reaching, bending over, lifting heavy objects, using continuous force, working with vibrating equipment and doing repetitive motions.

What does the standard require? All employers must provide employees with basic information about:

• Common MSDs and their signs and symptoms;
• The importance of reporting MSDs, and sign and symptoms, as soon as possible;
• How to report MSDs in the workplace;
• Risk factors, job and work activities associated with MSD hazards;
• And, a brief description of OSHA's Ergonomics standard.

No further action is needed until/unless an employee reports an MSD or persistent signs or symptoms of an MSD.

What are the employer's requirements once an MSD has been reported?

1. The employer must determine if the employee's signs and symptoms constitute an "MSD incident". Employers may request assistance of a health care professional to make the determination.
2. Determine whether the MSD incident meets the standard's "Action Trigger".

What is an "Action Trigger"? Employers must review the worker's job to determine whether it routinely involves exposure to one or more of the five (5) ergonomic risk factors on one or more days of the week. The risk factors are:

repetition
force
awkward postures
contact stress
vibration

What are the employer's responsibilities if a job meets the "Action Trigger"?

1. Employers can use a "Quick Fix" option, and not implement a complete program, for problems that can be resolved in 90 days in a job where only one MSD has occurred, and where not more than two MSDs have been reported in the preceding 18 months.
2. If the problem cannot be corrected in 90 days, then employers must develop and implement a full ergonomics program for that job and others like it. The program must contain the following elements: Management Leadership & Employee Participation; Job Hazard Analysis and Control; Training; MSD Management; Program Evaluation; and Record Keeping (for employers with 11 or more employees).

JV

Jeff Vincent is one of two OSHA authorized 501 General Industry Outreach trainers on CITEC's staff. Call Jeff (315-782-3444) for more information on the new Ergo standards or for assistance in achieving compliance at your company.