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Ergonomics: Worker Safety Training

Background: In January 2001, OSHA issued an ergonomics standard, which required companies to address hazards likely to cause sprains, strains and repetitive motion injuries. The rule, developed under the Clinton administration, was comprised of over 800 pages. It was the most expensive and far-reaching rule in the agency’s history. Due to the nature of the hazards addressed by this regulation, employers would have been accountable for injuries that could occur from activities outside the workplace. It would have placed hundreds of limitations on how employees could do their job.

The Clinton ergonomics standard was never implemented because the Senate and House passed a joint resolution invalidating the ergonomics regulation under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Former President Bush signed the resolution on March 20, 2001.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act passed by Congress in 1970 does not currently have specific regulations governing workplace safety relating to ergonomics. Since 2001, OSHA has developed industry-specific voluntary guidelines. As of early 2009, they had issued guidelines for nursing homes, shipyards, poultry-processing facilities, and retail grocery stores. OSHA's current policy is to cite employers for "recognized serious hazards, including ergonomic ones." This rule falls under OSHA's General Duty Clause and is true regardless of the voluntary guidelines regarding ergonomics.

California is the only state in the nation that has an ergonomic standard. There's already talk of using the California’s ergonomics rule as a national model.

Outlook: Organized labor argues that 1/3 of all workplace injuries are related to repetitive-stress injuries and is pressing OSHA to issue a new federal ergonomics regulation. Metalcasters should expect that a new Obama Labor Department will review and likely enhance the ergonomics regulations that were proposed by the Clinton Administration.

For more information, contact Stephanie Salmon, Metalcasting Industry Government Affairs Washington Office, at ss@wafed.com or 202/842-4864.

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