['Ergonomics']
['Ergonomics']
07/17/2024
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Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. In the workplace, ergonomic principles are used to make alterations to a job so that it conforms to the person doing that job, rather than to force the person to fit the job. Redesigning various job functions to match a person's stature will reduce stress on the body and eliminate many potential injuries associated with the overuse of muscles, unnatural postures, and repetitive motions.
Technological advances, which result in more specialized tasks and increased repetition are often major causes of ergonomic problems. Consequently, workers' hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, backs, and legs may be subjected to thousands of repetitive twisting, forceful or flexing motions during a typical workday. When this occurs on the job, the stress on those body parts builds up over time and results in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
The goal of a workplace ergonomics program is to reduce or eliminate the risk factors that lead to MSDs. Identifying these risk factors in your workplace is the first step toward making changes that will improve the safety and health of all workers.
Scope
California has its own Ergonomics standard. Federal OSHA published an ergonomics standard on November 14, 2000 (65 FR 68261), effective January 16, 2001. However, the rule was repealed in March 2001. When necessary, Federal OSHA will rely on the General Duty Clause for enforcement of any place of employment with recognized hazards that can cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to their employees. California’s ergonomics rule remains in effect. Click the links below to view the applicable requirements.
General Duty Clause: Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act
Citations
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 15, Article 106, 5110. Repetitive Motion Injuries
A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- The employer must establish and implement a program designed to minimize repetitive motion injuries (RMIs), which must include the following:
- Worksite evaluation of each job, process, or operation for exposures which have caused RMIs.
- Control of any exposures that caused RMIs must, in a timely manner, be corrected or if not capable of being corrected have the exposures minimized to the extent feasible. Such controls to consider include workstation redesign, adjustable fixtures or tool redesign, job rotation, work pacing or work breaks.
- Training of employees must include an explanation of the employer’s program; exposures which have been associated with RMIs; symptoms and consequences of injuries caused by repetitive motion; the importance of reporting symptoms and injuries to the employer; and methods used by the employer to minimize RMIs.
- Exception: The employer’s obligation under this section will be seen as satisfactory if they are able to show that a measure known to but not taken by the employer is substantially certain to cause a greater reduction in such injuries and that this alternative measure would not impose additional unreasonable costs.
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Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.