OSHA's new ergonomics standard

摘要

UNDER THE OCCUPATIONAL Safety and Health Administration's final ergonomics program standard issued on November 13, 2000 (the text is on-line at www.osha.gov), steel companies soon will face burdensome and costly requirements covering injuries that may not have been caused by the workplace.According to OSHA, exposure to ergonomic risk factors on the job leads to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper extremities, back, and lower extremities. Every year, almost 600,000 MSDs severe enough to require time off work are reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS data indicate that MSDs have been the largest single job-related injury and illness problem in the last decade. OSHA believes that the incidence of MSDs actually is much higher than the number reported. Tn effect, the new ergonomics standard probably will encourage over reporting of MSDs.