Health and Safety Community Applauds Proposed Ergonomics Program

Nov. 25, 1999
Groups like the ACOEM and ACA are encouraging OSHA to move forward with the rulemaking process.

On Monday, OSHA released its proposed ergonomics program standard which is expected to spare more than 300,000 workers from painful, potentially and disabling injuries. The proposal has brought strong reaction from industry, labor and health and safety communities.

Groups such as the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) are applauding the concept of government ergonomics standards.

ACOEM has been encouraging OSHA to move forward with the rulemaking process all along and supports the use of an ergonomics program which includes medical management to promote primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. ACOEM said it looks forward to the adoption of a standard that encourages an accurate assessment of the workplace and an accurate diagnosis of potential musculoskeletal disorders to protect the health of America's workforce.

Although it has not yet reviewed the ergonomics standards proposed by OSHA, ACA believes this first step is a potential victory for workers and the nation's health care system.

"Every day, doctors of chiropractic treat patients who are suffering from the effects of their poorly-designed work stations," said Dr. Scott Bautch, president of ACA's Council on Occupational Health. "These often painful and disabling injuries could be avoided by the recognition of ergonomics issues in the workplace and the implementation of standards dealing with this national epidemic."

Repetitive motion injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome, have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, especially as more and more people spend long hours virtually immobilized in front of computer screens, said Bautch. According to recent estimates, more than 75 million Americans spend some time using a computer every day for both work and recreation.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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