Ergonomics A Comprehensive Approach Occupational Safety and Health Administration US Department of Labor

Safety and Health Add Value To Your Business To Your Business To Your Workplace To Your Workplace To Your Life To Your Life

Reducing Ergonomic Injuries Musculoskeletal injuries represent 1/3 of all injuries in the workplace Musculoskeletal injuries represent 1/3 of all injuries in the workplace Goal of reducing injuries as quickly as possible Goal of reducing injuries as quickly as possible Prevent injuries before they occur Prevent injuries before they occur

Four-Pronged Approach to Ergonomics Guidelines Guidelines Enforcement Enforcement Research Research Outreach & Assistance Outreach & Assistance

Ergonomic Guidelines A Protocol Sets up a fair, transparent process for developing guidelines Sets up a fair, transparent process for developing guidelines Uses stakeholder information and best practices Uses stakeholder information and best practices

Ergonomic Guidelines Nursing Home Guidelines Draft guidelines in August Draft guidelines in August Comments through October Comments through October Stakeholder meetings Stakeholder meetings Final guidelines in early 2003 Final guidelines in early 2003

Ergonomic Guidelines Future Guidelines Draft guidelines for groceries and poultry processing being developed Draft guidelines for groceries and poultry processing being developed Furniture Manufacturers Association Furniture Manufacturers Association More to come More to come

Ergonomic Guidelines What You Can Do Review draft guidelines, give us your input Review draft guidelines, give us your input Develop your own guidelines Develop your own guidelines Work with us to create guidelines for your industry Work with us to create guidelines for your industry

Enforcement Reducing Hazards Reducing ergonomic hazards and providing a safe workplace is not voluntary Reducing ergonomic hazards and providing a safe workplace is not voluntary

Enforcement Coordination of inspections with a legal strategy for successful prosecution Coordination of inspections with a legal strategy for successful prosecution Target prosecutable ergonomics violations Target prosecutable ergonomics violations Use special ergo inspection teams to work closely with legal experts Use special ergo inspection teams to work closely with legal experts

Enforcement Elements of a 5(a)(1) Case Is there exposure to a hazard? Is there exposure to a hazard? Is it a recognized hazard? Is it a recognized hazard? Is it likely to cause death or serious injury? Is it likely to cause death or serious injury? Is there a feasible means of abatement? 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 NEP for Nursing Homes NEP for Nursing Homes 192 NEP inspections in the first four months of the program 192 NEP inspections in the first four months of the program Target of 1,000 inspections for FY2003 Target of 1,000 inspections for FY2003

National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics Finding Practical Applications Provide information on guidelinesProvide information on guidelines Identify gaps in existing research on ergonomics in the workplaceIdentify gaps in existing research on ergonomics in the workplace Suggest strategies for outreach and assistanceSuggest strategies for outreach and assistance Recommend ways to increase communication among stakeholdersRecommend ways to increase communication among stakeholders

National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics 15 Members from Varied Backgrounds Edward J. Bernacki, MD, MPH Edward J. Bernacki, MD, MPH Lisa M. Brooks, CIE Lisa M. Brooks, CIE Paul A. Fontana Paul A. Fontana Willis J. Goldsmith, Esq. Willis J. Goldsmith, Esq. Carter J. Kerk, PhD Carter J. Kerk, PhD James L. Koskan, MS, CSP James L. Koskan, MS, CSP Morton L Kasdan, MD, FACS Morton L Kasdan, MD, FACS George P. LaPorte George P. LaPorte Barbara McCabe Barbara McCabe J. Dan McCausland J. Dan McCausland Audrey Nelson, PhD, RN Audrey Nelson, PhD, RN Lida Orta-Anes, PhD Lida Orta-Anes, PhD Roxanne Rivera Roxanne Rivera W. Corey Thompson W. Corey Thompson Richard Wyatt, PhD Richard Wyatt, PhD

Outreach and Assistance Increasing Tools Providing general and guideline- specific outreach, assistance and support Providing general and guideline- specific outreach, assistance and support Featured tools and programs: Featured tools and programs: Ergonomics web page at Ergonomics web page at eTools eTools Cooperative programs (Alliances, Strategic Partnerships, VPP and Consultation) Cooperative programs (Alliances, Strategic Partnerships, VPP and Consultation) Training and Education Training and Education

Outreach and Assistance Expanding Assistance 60 compliance assistance specialists 60 compliance assistance specialists New Office of Small Business New Office of Small Business Ergonomic coordinators in each of the 10 regions Ergonomic coordinators in each of the 10 regions

Outreach and Assistance Alliances Flexible with few formal program requirements Flexible with few formal program requirements Easier implementation over shorter timeframe Easier implementation over shorter timeframe Training and education Training and education Outreach and communication Outreach and communication Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health

Outreach and Assistance Ergonomics Alliances Airlines Alliance Airlines Alliance American Meat Institute American Meat Institute Printing industry Printing industry Society of Plastics Industry Society of Plastics Industry American Industrial Hygiene Association American Industrial Hygiene Association American Society of Safety Engineers American Society of Safety Engineers

Outreach and Assistance Strategic Partnerships Call for industry partners to: Identify most common workplace hazards and risks through worksite analysis Identify most common workplace hazards and risks through worksite analysis Prevent and control the hazards Prevent and control the hazards Conduct training Conduct training Measure results Measure results Publicize best practices Publicize best practices

Outreach and Assistance Voluntary Protection Programs Many VPP sites have effective ergonomic programs that can serve as models 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 can serve as mentors for organizations wishing to address ergonomic issues VPP sites will be recognized for ergonomic initiatives VPP sites will be recognized for ergonomic initiatives VPPPA can share best practices VPPPA can share best practices

Outreach and Assistance Consultation Helps employer identify correct hazards Helps employer identify correct hazards Identifies sources for further assistance Identifies sources for further assistance Assists in developing an effective safety and health program Assists in developing an effective safety and health program Offers training Offers training No citations issued or penalties proposed 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 Course 225 – Principles of Ergonomics Applied to Work-Related Musculoskeletal and Nervous Disorders 20 education centers at 35 locations 20 education centers at 35 locations Training is key to safety and health Training is key to safety and health

Ergonomics A Comprehensive Approach Goals: Decrease ergonomic hazards Decrease ergonomic hazards Reduce injuries and illnesses Reduce injuries and illnesses Help employers prevent MSDs Help employers prevent MSDs Ensure flexibility and encourage innovation Ensure flexibility and encourage innovation

The Challenge Adding value Adding value Working together Working together Moving the dialogue forward Moving the dialogue forward Reducing ergonomic injuries Reducing ergonomic injuries

OSHA