Ergonomic Injuries in the Workplace: OSHA Guidelines

Introduction to Ergonomic Injuries

Occupational safety has drawn increased attention since OSHA guidelines made it mandatory for employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace. These safety measures include protection against occupational hazards of all kinds as well as potential fire ignition risks. However, while major injuries that can be directly witnessed have always been taken into account, it took employers a long time to realize that some injuries occur due to the nature of the job itself and may often escape notice. These injuries are called ergonomic injuries, and they include sprains, strains, and stress-related conditions generated by either the nature of the work itself or simply the tools used to accomplish various daily tasks. Ergonomics is the science that studies the relationship between humans and their work, and injuries arising from that relationship are classified as ergonomic injuries.

While it was relatively straightforward to identify other physical dangers present at work, it was not easy to assess the toll that work takes on the body's muscles, joints, and bones. The daily aches and pains connected with sitting at a desk in a fixed position, moving heavy objects, or performing repetitive tasks had long been dismissed by employers as an unavoidable byproduct of work — not something requiring employer protection. However, this attitude has changed as more and more people became aware of the risks involved in performing certain tasks. Employers must now make workplaces, workstations, and the nature of work comfortable enough to minimize the risks of ergonomic injuries.

It was in 2002, under the Bush administration, that OSHA developed strict guidelines enforcing worker protection from ergonomic injuries. That year, OSHA revealed "a new comprehensive plan to dramatically reduce ergonomic injuries through a combination of guidelines, tough enforcement, workplace outreach, advanced research, and voluntary compliance" (Adelizzi, 2002).

Some of the most common scenarios in which ergonomic injuries are likely to occur involve computer-related jobs, where continuous work at a computer can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. The strain placed on the fingers and thumb from endless keystrokes can cause serious wrist pain that radiates up into the thumbs. Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common in workplaces where computer usage is consistent and regular. OSHA protects employees from these kinds of injuries even though they may not be perceived as injuries in the conventional sense. OSHA makes it mandatory for employers to ensure that stress and strain do not contribute to ergonomic injuries, and providing a safe workplace is therefore critical.

OSHA Guidelines and Enforcement

Computer-related injuries did not initially provide the primary impetus for OSHA guidelines. It was more manual jobs — such as cleaning floors and shelving inventory — that led to serious regulatory action on ergonomic injuries. The Department of Labor reported more than 800,000 injuries related to manual work in 2003 alone. These injuries include strains, backaches, and sprains, which occur most frequently among workers in manual, low-wage occupations.

A large part of OSHA's guidelines on ergonomic injuries focuses on workplace outreach, with special attention given to protecting vulnerable worker populations from possible injuries resulting from low-paying, high-risk jobs. Companies lose profits every year due to these injuries. In addition to paying for employee treatment, they also suffer losses from absenteeism. "The BLS reported that skilled workers who suffered musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries lost an average of 19 workdays. Of all injuries resulting in lost workdays, 257,900 were ergonomically related, and 44 percent were caused by bodily movements or exertion" (Wood, 2005).

OSHA has developed various levels of ergonomic prevention plans designed for different kinds of workplaces. In settings where injuries have resulted in serious problems requiring treatment, OSHA urges employers to adopt a full ergonomic injury prevention plan. A more basic plan is recommended for firms with a lower risk of these injuries. OSHA also provides training to employers for implementing these guidelines, with sessions considered especially critical for small businesses, which face a higher risk of such injuries. OSHA plans to conduct regular inspections to ensure these guidelines are being followed.

Common Risk Factors for Ergonomic Injuries

It is the responsibility of employers to identify risk factors and make reasonable efforts to remove them in order to develop a safer and healthier workplace. Wood (2005) identifies the following potentially risky workplace patterns:

OSHA expects employers to develop programs to identify and remove these risky patterns. Its position is clear: "Employers need to remain vigilant for ergonomic risks. This issue clearly is important to OSHA and will be a priority during upcoming inspections. Companies need to take steps now to identify and eliminate ergonomic hazards. At a minimum, employers should develop programs to reduce ergonomic risk factors. OSHA has stated that it will not focus its enforcement efforts on employers who have implemented effective ergonomic programs or who are making good-faith efforts to reduce ergonomic hazards" (constructionweblinks.com, 2002).

Conclusion

OSHA Issues New Plan for Reducing Ergonomic Injuries, May 6, 2002. Retrieved from

Wood, R. (2005, December 13). Ergonomic injuries and the workplace. Retrieved from

Adelizzi, M. OSHA's comprehensive plan to reduce ergonomic injuries. Retrieved from http://www.masoncontractors.org/newsandevents/masonryheadlines/headline.php?id=20020603083700