Adoption of the standard will reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers who must do repetitive tasks or lift heavy weights. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome are the most prevalent, expensive and preventable workplace injuries in the U.S.
The majority of affected workers are women -- many of them in manufacturing, nursing homes or other physically-stressing positions.
Some business and industry sources have opposed adoption of the standard and have conducted an extensive letter-writing and grassroots campaign against it.
Letters from employers who support reasonable standards, and letters from employees at risk of MSDs, would be effective. Please stress the importance of reducing the risk of MSDs for women workers.
About one-third of general industry worksites (approximately 1.9 million)
would be affected and 27 million workers. Many large employers have ergonomics
programs in place, but numerous smaller employers do not. The department
has concluded that each year about 1.8 million workers sustain work-related
musculoskeletal disorders, such as injuries from over-exertion or repetitive
motion. Other types of MSDs are sciatica, herniated disc and low back pain;
however, MSDs do not include injuries from slips, trips, falls or other
accidents. About a third of MSDs are serious enough to require time off
and some injuries often need a lengthy recovery period. A third of workers's
compensation payments are due to MSDs.
Women suffer 70 percent of the carpal tunnel syndrome cases and 62
percent of the tendinitis cases that are serious enough to require employees
to take time off work. Annually, more than 100,000 women have work-related
back injuries.
The program, if adopted, would mean that workers who experience covered musculoskeletal disorders receive a prompt response, evaluation of their injury and follow-up by a health care professional, if needed. Most workers who must take time off to recover from such an injury would get 90 percent of their pay and 100 percent of benefits during that time. Experience has shown that employees are often reluctant to report symptoms if this might result in missed work that causes lost income. Costs to employers to correct problems are estimated at an annual average of $150 per work station fixed. That total annual cost is less than half that incurred in paying medical costs, lost productivity and other expenses when injuries occur.
If you believe that adoption of an ergonomics program standard could improve the safety and productivity at your workplace, explain this in your letter or email message. It will be important to stress the special benefits to women workers who sustain a majority of MSDs. Note that on-the-job MSDs should be prevented or minimized and that numerous studies have shown that sound ergonomics programs have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing risk.
Written comments should be submitted in duplicate by Feb. 1st to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. S-777, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments of 10 pages or less may be faxed to the Docket Office at 202-693-1648. Comments may also be submitted electronically through OSHA's internet site at http://www.osha.gov and you can also find more details there. Any attachments such as studies, reports, etc. cannot be sent electronically, but must be submitted in duplicate to the address above.