The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced last Friday a four-part, comprehensive approach to reduce workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The Agency’s long-awaited announcement on ergonomics immediately drew criticism from organized labor that had pushed hard for a formal standard. OSHA, instead of promulgating a rule, intends to work with trade associations and business groups to put together industry-specific task guidelines – something ILMA had advocated with the Agency – to prevent and reduce MSDs.

“Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data show that [MSDs] are already on the decline. This plan is designed to accelerate that decline as quickly as possible,” said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. “Thousands of employers are already working to reduce ergonomic risks without government mandates. We want to work with them to continuously improve workplace safety and health. We will go after the bad actors who refuse to take care of their workers,” Henshaw added.
OSHA announced that its ergonomics program would have four main components:
1. Voluntary industry-specific task guidelines – The Agency will not promulgate another rule, but instead will work with trade associations and business groups to put together industry-specific and task-specific guidelines to prevent and reduce workplace MSDs based on current injury and illness rates and available information about effective and feasible solutions. OSHA also will encourage industries to develop ergonomics guidelines to meet their own specifications. The Agency expects to start releasing ergonomic guidelines in selected industries in six months.
2. Strengthening enforcement – OSHA intends to focus its enforcement resources on industries and companies that have multiple complaints for the same task. The Agency said that it will not focus its enforcement efforts on employers who have implemented effective ergonomics programs or who are making “good faith” efforts to reduce workplace ergonomic hazards. OSHA did remind employers that they are required to keep their workplaces free from recognized serious hazards, including MSDs, under the “general duty clause” of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
3.Compliance and Training Assistance – OSHA said it would develop new compliance assistance tools, especially for small business. The Agency plans to provide specialized training and information on implementing successful ergonomics programs and to highlight those employers’ efforts that have resulted in the reduction of MSDs.
4.Ergonomics Research – OSHA is creating a national advisory committee and is commissioning another study to “fill in the gaps” on the existing research on workplace MSDs. The Agency previously has been criticized for its ergonomics research.

OSHA’s ergonomics announcement is a victory for ILMA and other business groups. A little over a year ago, Congress rejected OSHA’s ergonomics far-reaching and burdensome ergonomics standard that had been issued by the Clinton Administration. As the Bush Administration had OSHA work toward a new approach to ergonomics, ILMA submitted comments to and testified before the Agency that voluntary industry guidelines were a more effective approach to preventing and reducing MSDs.

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