Ergonomics
A Comprehensive Approach
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
US Department of Labor
Safety and Health Add Value
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To Your Business
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To Your Workplace
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To Your Life
Reducing Ergonomic Injuries
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Musculoskeletal injuries represent
1/3 of all injuries in the workplace
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Goal of reducing injuries as
quickly as possible
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Prevent injuries before
they occur
Four-Pronged Approach to Ergonomics
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Guidelines
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Enforcement
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Research
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Outreach & Assistance
Ergonomic Guidelines
A Protocol
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Sets up a fair, transparent process
for developing guidelines
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Uses stakeholder information and
best practices
Ergonomic Guidelines
Nursing Home Guidelines
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Draft guidelines in August
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Comments through October
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Stakeholder meetings
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Final guidelines in
early 2003
Ergonomic Guidelines
Future Guidelines
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Draft guidelines for groceries and
poultry processing being developed
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Furniture Manufacturers
Association
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More to come
Ergonomic Guidelines
What You Can Do
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Review draft guidelines, give us
your input
Develop your own guidelines
Work with us to create guidelines
for your industry
Enforcement
Reducing Hazards
Reducing ergonomic
hazards and providing
a safe workplace
is not voluntary
Enforcement
• Coordination of inspections with a
legal strategy for successful
prosecution
• Target prosecutable ergonomics
violations
• Use special ergo inspection teams to
work closely with legal experts
Enforcement
Elements of a 5(a)(1) Case
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Is there exposure to a hazard?
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Is it a recognized hazard?
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Is it likely to cause death
or serious injury?
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Is there a feasible means
of abatement?
Enforcement
Focus of 5(a)(1)
The focus will not be on employers
who have implemented effective
ergonomics programs or who are
making good-faith efforts to reduce
ergonomic hazards.
Enforcement
National Emphasis Program
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NEP for Nursing Homes
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192 NEP inspections in the first
four months of the program
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Target of 1,000 inspections for
FY2003
National Advisory Committee
on Ergonomics
Finding Practical Applications
• Provide information on guidelines
• Identify gaps in existing research on
ergonomics in the workplace
• Suggest strategies for outreach
and assistance
• Recommend ways to increase
communication among
stakeholders
National Advisory Committee
on Ergonomics
15 Members from Varied Backgrounds
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Edward J. Bernacki, MD, MPH
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Barbara McCabe
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Lisa M. Brooks, CIE
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J. Dan McCausland
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Paul A. Fontana
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Audrey Nelson, PhD, RN
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Willis J. Goldsmith, Esq.
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Lida Orta-Anes, PhD
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Carter J. Kerk, PhD
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Roxanne Rivera
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James L. Koskan, MS, CSP
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W. Corey Thompson
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Morton L Kasdan, MD, FACS
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Richard Wyatt, PhD
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George P. LaPorte
Outreach and Assistance
Increasing Tools
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Providing general and guidelinespecific outreach, assistance and
support
Featured tools and programs:
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Ergonomics web page at www.osha.gov
eTools
Cooperative programs
(Alliances, Strategic
Partnerships, VPP and
Consultation)
Training and Education
Outreach and Assistance
Expanding Assistance
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60 compliance assistance specialists
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New Office of Small Business
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Ergonomic coordinators
in each of the 10 regions
Outreach and Assistance
Alliances
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Flexible with few formal program
requirements
Easier implementation over shorter
timeframe
Training and education
Outreach and communication
Promoting the national dialogue on
workplace safety and health
Outreach and Assistance
Ergonomics Alliances
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Airlines Alliance
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American Meat Institute
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Printing industry
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Society of Plastics Industry
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American Industrial Hygiene Association
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American Society of Safety Engineers
Outreach and Assistance
Strategic Partnerships
Call for industry partners to:
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Identify most common workplace
hazards and risks through worksite
analysis
Prevent and control the hazards
Conduct training
Measure results
Publicize best practices
Outreach and Assistance
Voluntary Protection Programs
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Many VPP sites have effective
ergonomic programs that can serve
as models
VPP sites can serve as mentors for
organizations wishing to address
ergonomic issues
VPP sites will be recognized for
ergonomic initiatives
VPPPA can share best practices
Outreach and Assistance
Consultation
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Helps employer identify correct
hazards
Identifies sources for further
assistance
Assists in developing an effective
safety and health program
Offers training
No citations issued or penalties
proposed
Outreach and Assistance
Training and Education
OSHA has developed training programs
to address ergonomic hazards:
• Course 225 – Principles of Ergonomics
Applied to Work-Related
Musculoskeletal and Nervous
Disorders
• 20 education centers
at 35 locations
• Training is key to safety
and health
Ergonomics
A Comprehensive Approach
Goals:
• Decrease ergonomic hazards
• Reduce injuries and illnesses
• Help employers prevent MSDs
• Ensure flexibility and
encourage innovation
The Challenge
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Adding value
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Working together
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Moving the dialogue forward
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Reducing ergonomic injuries
1-800-321-OSHA
www.osha.gov