ERGONOMICS VICTORY!!!

Your hard work has paid off! Nov. 13th, OSHA issued its final ergonomics standard which will prevent hundreds of thousands of workplace injuries each year. The standard will take effect Jan. 16th, 2001 and employers must begin to distribute information, receive and respond to injury reports no later than Oct. 14, 2001.

Even though the standard does not require action until a worker is injured, it forces employers to implement ergonomics programs and fix jobs where musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur.

What is ergonomics?
The science of fitting the job to the worker.

What is a MSD?
A disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels, or spinal discs.

What causes workplace MSDs?
Exposure to repetition, force, awkward postures, contact stress, and vibration.

What are the areas that are considered to be at risk of MSD exposure?
Neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, abdomen (hernia only), back, knee, ankle and foot.

*contributed from United Steel Workers or America

For final OSHA Standard, click here.

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