OSHA published a comprehensive ergonomics standard that was subsequently rescinded by Congress using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Since that time, OSHA has been prohibited from passing another ergonomics standard. OSHA's current approach is to publish ergonomic guidelines, which are not legally enforceable, for industries with high incidence rates of MSDs and CTDs.
What is your opinion of OSHA's current approach to ergonomic issues in workplaces? Can you propose an approach that you believe would better address ergonomic issues?
I have issues with OSHA’s current approach to ergonomic issues in the workplace because they have guidelines that were introduced in 1992 which they have said if there are citations that need to be issued
it will be done citing the general duty clause. But to date they have not issued many citations to employers under the clause despite the increasing number of individuals being injured due to ergonomics inadequacies by employers. It is understood that most workplaces will only complete the minimum actions unless they are forced into compliance and if you work in any facility the only thing that you hear about is the bottom line and shareholders. This is why there needs to be action and the only way they will listen is if they are fined and they must pay others instead of keeping those funds internally. I have seen this firsthand once the fine is thought to be coming into place immediate actions are taken to minimize the impact of the fine, but then need to still issue the fine to ensure the organization is compliant. This can include the better approach of elimination, and this is where OSHA could come into place with assistance or more assistance of workplaces concerning the issue. They could use the funds from the fines to develop a sector that can assist workplaces that would like assistance with creating a safe ergonomic workplace like the VPP section they currently have. To take it up another notch they should include it in the VPP process to determine if workplaces achieve the star that would highlight the value placed on the importance. Currently OSHA has 1946 star sites in various industries, if you look at ergonomics across all of them you will still discover issues because it is not looked at under the program and they would not be star sites. OSHA has a prime way to place a focus on ergonomics and the value they would like to see, but being sidelined by Congress is not the end all be all they just need to be creative in the process to ensure it works.
