The Occupational Safety and Health Administration unveiled a new ergonomics plan that includes guidelines, enforcement against the worst violators, aid to small business and more research on ergonomic injuries. Union leaders called it inadequate.

The plan, developed after public hearings, dominated by industry witnesses, and detailed comments, has no separate regulations for ergonomic injuries, which harm 1.8 million workers per year.

Instead, it plans enforcement teams of OSHA attorneys and ergonomic specialists using its 'general duty clause' that lets OSHA pursue all job safety hazards. OSHA used that clause once last year for ergonomics.

The teams would pay special attention to those workplaces - nursing homes and others - with high hazards, while offering help to other businesses, agency administrator John Henshaw said.

Ergonomic injuries, also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), are caused by repetitive motions which produce muscle strains, fractures or nerve damage.

Workers who repeat the same action time after time - auto workers, packing plant workers, typists - or who lift heavy weights, such as delivery truck drivers, suffer.

'Pro-business' proposal
Union leaders criticized OSHA's plan for its lack of enforcement. AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney recalled that President Bush backed the corporate lobbying that pushed Congress to repeal OSHA's previous ergonomics rule a year ago. Sweeney said the new plan follows the pro-business pattern.

'Instead of action to fix dangerous workplace hazards, the plan relies on voluntary assistance and passive outreach tools such as new web sites. It does not call for any immediate action,' Sweeney said.

He pinned the responsibility on Bush, saying the 'administration again caters to corporate special interests and abdicates its responsibility to protect workers.'

Key elements of OSHA's ergonomics plan include:

• Placing a special enforcement emphasis, using OSHA's teams 'on industries where special problems exist, including nursing homes,' Henshaw said. Targeted firms would be in the industries with the worst ergonomic records he added. Other than nursing homes and construction, he did not name them.
• Special teams of attorneys and ergonomic specialists would pursue ergo violations. With no increase in staff or funding, OSHA staffers say agency attorneys will shift emphasis from other areas, but would not say from where.
• Developing ergonomic guidelines for specific industries. Henshaw said the first guidelines would be available in about six months. The guidelines are not mandatory.
• Offering training and materials for small businesses. Henshaw said there would also be a special outreach program for Hispanic workers, both to workers and through their businesses, because those workers--such as meat packing plant workers--often work in the most-hazardous plants.
• More research on ergonomic hazards and solutions.

Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.