In the 60-minute Web chat, Barab received five questions about ergonomics.

One thing is for sure: Ergonomics is a priority now at OSHA. At a minimum, the agency would like companies to make ergonomics a more frequent safety training topic to reduce related injuries. And the current administration has signaled that, even without an ergonomics standard, it will use the General Duty Clause to issue citations when inspections uncover ergonomic problems.

Here’s what we know from Barab’s answers to questions during the Web chat:

• While OSHA will propose a rule to define work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and add a separate column for them on its required workplace injuries log (300 Log), Barab said that isn’t a prelude to a broader ergonomic standard. OSHA has no plan for regulatory activity on WMSDs at this time, Barab said.
• OSHA hopes requiring companies to note ergonomic injuries on the 300 Log will provide useful information that employers and workers can use to better identify WMSDs in the workplace.
• Barab said the new OSHA administrator, David Michaels “will intensify the process of determining how we are going to address ergonomics.” Barab also said Michaels will address ergonomics “as one of his highest priorities.”
• Industry-specific standards, such as safe patient handling in healthcare facilities, is one option OSHA will consider.

How should OSHA handle ergonomics? Let us know in the Comments Box below.

President Obama’s nominee to head the occupational safety agency had been held up in the Senate, which finally confirmed him late last week.

Michaels will take over from Jordan Barab, who’s been the acting head of OSHA in the Obama administration. Barab will now become the No. 2 person at OSHA.

Michaels was a professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Two years ago, in testimony before Congress, Michaels characterized OSHA as weak, unmotivated, understaffed, heavily impeded and generally ineffective.

Michaels also made his views about business clear in a 2005 article and subsequent book, Doubt is Their Product. Michaels wrote, “Never in our history have corporate interests been as successful as they are today in shaping science policies to their desires.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce questioned Obama’s choice of Michaels to head OSHA.

In a letter, Chamber President Bruce Josten said, regarding the ergonomics standard that was overturned by Congress in 2001, “Instead of acknowledging that the scientific and medical record relied upon for this regulation left many questions necessary to issue a regulation unanswered … [Michaels] described the science as settled and the efforts by business advocates to raise concerns about the science as nothing more than a delaying tactic.”

On the subject of ergonomics, Barab stated in a Web chat on Dec. 7, “At this time, OSHA has no plans to pursue ergonomics regulation, although the incoming Assistant Secretary [Michaels] will be addressing this issue as one of his highest priorities.”

The answer is, “Yes.” It’s all about proper ergonomics.

The sitting position flattens the small of the back, increasing the pressure on the discs in the spine. When a person sits, the discs may not be able to handle the vibrations coming from a moving vehicle.

Also, the ligaments in the back that help hold the spine together can stretch and slacken when the body is in a sitting position for a long time. And the ligaments can stay that way for a while, even after the driver stands.

The stresses on employees’ discs and ligaments can increase their risk for back injury.

Who’s at risk? Truck drivers, emergency medical technicians, mass transit drivers, delivery people, heavy equipment operators, farmers and forklift operators.

Here are some reminders you can give these workers to avoid injury from driving:

• Make sure you can reach the steering wheel without stretching your arms
• Adjust the seat so you can press the foot pedals without moving your lower back forward off the seat back
• Tilt the seat cushion until your thighs are supported along the full length of the cushion without pressure at the back of your knees
• Tilt your seat a notch or two back and forth every half hour to change the direction of vibration on your body
• Keep the vehicle’s suspension in good working order
• Use a lumbar support (or a rolled up towel) to help you fit the back rest to your back
• Use good posture, and
• Take regular stretch breaks for several minutes every hour or two.

Click here for more information.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) recently released a position statement on ergonomics (PDF) which supports “the development of ergonomics-related reporting, regulations and standards as a more effective long-term strategy” than guidelines.

AIHA says ergonomic regulations should focus on the development of health and safety programs that reduce the risk of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs).

Specifically, AIHA has called for OSHA to:

• develop a strong and clear minimum standard for the recognition and abatement of hazards that result in MSDs based on the best available scientific and medical knowledge, and
• continue to require employers to record MSDs on Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries.

Earlier this year, interim OSHA administrator Jordan Barab called ergonomics “the 60,000-pound elephant in the room.” He acknowledged OSHA can’t create a new standard. Congress barred OSHA from issuing a similar standard when the original ergonomics rules were overturned in 2001.

However, Barab said, “we can fix this.”

Even during the Bush years, OSHA issued 19 General Duty Clause (GDC) citations for ergonomics.

Should OSHA address workplace ergonomics through regulations? Or should the agency just use the GDC to issue fines when it finds ergonomic problems? Let us know in the Comments Box below.

The Chamber sent a letter to the chairs and ranking members of two Senate committees, asking for hearings on David Michaels’ nomination.

Michaels is a professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health.

In the letter, Chamber President Bruce Josten notes that Michaels’ book, Doubt is Their Product, criticizes industry groups that raise questions about various regulations and the science underlying them.

Josten cites the ergonomics standard that was enacted at the end of the Clinton administration but overturned by Congress in 2001.

The letter states, “Instead of acknowledging that the scientific and medical record relied upon for this regulation left many questions necessary to issue a regulation unanswered … he described the science as settled and the efforts by business advocates to raise concerns about the science as nothing more than a delaying tactic.”

Josten also questions the way Michaels views the role of compliance assistance in workplace safety. And the Chamber wants Michaels to state whether he accepts data showing that workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities are at all time lows.

OSHA just started a National Emphasis Program on recordkeeping which will send inspectors to facilities with low injury rates that are in high-injury industries. Reason: OSHA wants to check whether companies are under-reporting injuries.

Jordan Barab is acting OSHA administrator. When a permanent head is named, he’ll assume the No. 2 position at the agency.

Michaels, a professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, detailed his views in Congressional testimony two years ago.

To paraphrase, he saw the agency as weak, unmotivated, understaffed, heavily impeded and generally ineffective.

Here are a few excerpts, which clearly signal his views on recordkeeping, ergonomics, rulemaking and the General Duty Clause, among other topics:

• “Preventable work related injuries and illnesses … are unacceptably high. Furthermore, the true incidence of these conditions is far higher than reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
• OSHA enforcement does not appear to be effective in further reducing injury rates. …  Statistical analyses indicate that (any reported) decrease can be attributable to changes in OSHA recordkeeping rules.
• “For most hazardous chemicals, OSHA’s standards are either inadequate or totally absent. One could write a book about the hazards that OSHA has failed to regulate adequately.”
• “The primary blame (for OSHA’s failure to issue appropriate health standards) rests in a system that makes OSHA standard setting inordinately difficult and resource-intensive.”
• “OSHA has abandoned the general duty clause. It is time for the agency to start using it again.”
• “Ergonomic injuries cost employers $15-20 billion annually in workers’ compensation costs alone, yet this number one workplace safety and health problem is not even mentioned on OSHA’s most recent regulatory agenda.”
• “OSHA doesn’t have the staff to work on more than one or two standards at a time, and … each standard takes years to complete. Unless things change radically, only a handful of the thousands of chemicals in daily use in American workplaces will ever be the subject of an OSHA standard.”

There’s no question that OSHA will change radically if Michaels is approved by the Senate and moves his agenda forward — an aggressive approach that Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and interim OSHA head Jordan Barab appear to have already set in motion.

Do you expect OSHA to make your job tougher in the coming years? Tell us what you think in the Comment Box below.

Patrick Kapust with OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs told attendees at the recent American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Safety 2009 conference that the agency has issued 19 General Duty Clause citations for ergonomics since 2002.

During the same time period, OSHA conducted 4,500 ergonomic inspections and issued 640 hazard alert letters on ergonomics. The companies that received those letters can expect follow-up from OSHA.

Also at the ASSE conference, OSHA administrator Jordan Barab said ergonomics was “the 60,000-pound elephant in the room.” He acknowledged the prohibition on a new ergonomics standard, but said, when it comes to ergonomics, “we can fix this.”

In a study in the July issue of The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers estimate there were nearly 10,000 emergency room visits for computer-related injuries in 2006, including cuts, bruises, sprains and fractures.

More than half of the injuries happened when people were moving their computers. The monitor was the piece of computer equipment most commonly involved.

Injuries have declined somewhat since 2003 with the sales of more and more LCD monitors.

Another hazard: trips and falls over computer wires.

Introducing “cell phone elbow” (CPE), numbness, tingling and pain in the forearm and hand caused by compression of the ulnar nerve, which passes along the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. (The ulnar nerve is what causes the pain when you hit your “funny bone.”)

It’s a real medical condition that’s known as cubital tunnel syndrome.

It’s caused by prolonged flexing of the elbow, such as when you hold a cell phone to your ear. It’s also an occupational injury suffered by people who type and others who work with their elbows bent tighter than 90 degrees.

Holding the elbow in a bent position for long periods can lead to decreased blood flow, inflammation and compression of the nerve.

Occupational therapists report this is the second most common compression syndrome. Carpal tunnel is most common.

Hand-free headsets can help alleviate symptoms. Another option: switch hands every ten minutes while speaking on a cell phone.

If you know of employees whose tasks require frequent elbow bending, look into modifying their workstations so the elbows aren’t overly flexed. And let them know that frequent cell phone use can contribute to this syndrome.

For more on cubital tunnel syndrome, click here.

Employers in another state may soon be facing mandatory rules to reduce the number of employees’ ergonomic injuries.

Michigan is in line to join California as the only states to require employers to have ergonomic programs.

Michigan’s rule would require that all employees be given ergonomic awareness training that covers:

• occupational risk factors
• signs and symptoms that indicate an ergonomic hazard may be present
• a process for reporting that an ergonomic hazard may be present, and
• a process for assessing and responding to ergonomic occupational risk.

Companies would have to document that training was performed.

Employers would also have to establish a process for assessing and responding to ergonomic occupational risk factors that includes:

• employee involvement
• assessment of ergonomic risks, and
• elimination, reduction or control of ergonomic hazards where economically and technically feasible.

The proposal continues to undergo state review, and a public hearing will have to be held. However, members of two key state commissions unanimously approved the measure in January.

The rule would take effect six months after it’s enacted.

From 2 states to 50?

While Michigan is working on its own rule, President Obama has said he favors restoring a federal ergonomics standard that would require employers to educate employees about musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), keep records on these types of injuries and determine their risks for MSDs.

Eliminating or reducing ergonomic injuries can save businesses significant costs. About $1 of every $3 spent on workers’ comp are spent on MSDs. Overall, U.S. employers absorb $20 billion in costs associated with ergonomic injuries.

Do you have an ergonomics program at your workplace? What do you think about state or federal rules to require employers to have ergonomic programs? Let us know about your program and opinions in the Comments Box below.

However, because of the emphasis placed on the Employee Free Choice Act during the hearing, not one Senator asked Hilda Solis about OSHA.

The “card-check” legislation would make it easier for unions to organize in the workplace.

Solis and Obama have backed the legislation in the past. Many Senate Republicans oppose it.

So what do we know about Solis’ position on OSHA?

She’s viewed as a supporter of more funding for a stronger OSHA that would put more emphasis on enforcement than the Bush administration has.

In the U.S. House, she voted “no” on a resolution to strip the Labor Department’s enforcement authority over ergonomics rules submitted during the Clinton Administration. Those rules were thrown out in 2001 and would have forced businesses to take steps to prevent work-related repetitive stress disorders.

For the moment, we’ll have to wait for Obama’s appointment of an OSHA administrator to get a better feel for the new administration’s workplace safety policies. Obama has called for an invigorated OSHA, but a federal budget crunch may limit extra funds for the agency. And it appears the union legislation is a higher priority at the moment.