OSHA, ASSE In Worker Safety Promotion

By Michael Ha

NU Online News Service, Dec. 6, 11:19 a.m.EST?The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety andHealth Administration and The American Society of Safety Engineersare teaming up for a worker safety effort focusing onergonomics-related injuries.

Through their partnership, OSHA and Des Plaines, Ill.-based ASSEsaid they will offer information and guidance on reducing exposureto ergonomic hazards as well as implementing and improvingergonomic programs in the U.S. workplace.

The two organizations said they will also share information onbest practices with others in the occupational health and safetyprofession and participate in forums and roundtable discussions onworkplace safety issues.

Carter Kerk, ASSE member and newly appointed member of OSHA'snew National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics said among thepractical advice he has for companies is that they examine"engineering controls" and possibly consider altering workplaceequipment.

This could involve adjusting the height of conveyers atfactories, for example, so that employees' hands are more at theirnatural, elbow level while working.

Companies might also consider "administrative controls" such asbetter worker rotations to improve safety, he said.

But, the first thing employers should do to promote workplacesafety is to put qualified safety and ergonomics professionals onstaff, Mr. Kerk said.

In seeking to make the workplace safer, he said companiesshould, "Start by looking at common sense, no cost solutions, andimplement those before considering spending money on more costlysolutions."

"Companies need to perform good job analysis before they canjump in and solve problems," he remarked.

OSHA and ASSE said their outreach and communication effortswould include setting up a process in which ASSE members can mentorand assist OSHA personnel. A team of representatives from the twogroups will meet quarterly to further develop working procedures,they said.

"Our members are on the front lines when it comes to workplacesafety. OSHA is very knowledgeable from a regulatory standpointwhile ASSE is very knowledgeable from a practitioner's standpoint,"said ASSE President Mark Hansen.

Mr. Hansen, who is director of risk control for oil and gas atThe St. Paul Companies at St. Paul, Minn., said combining ASSEmembers expertise with the OSHA staff, will provide a "well ofresources that corporations and organizations from all industriescan tap into in an effort to reduce injuries."

He added that businesses need to know that efficient ergonomicsystems will help them compete better in the globalmarketplace.

"Increased productivity, reduced workers' compensation andhealth claims and a decline in the number of lost work-days arejust a few of the benefits realized," said Mr. Hansen.

OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said, "Safety and healthprofessionals are the key to further reductions in workplaceinjuries, illnesses and fatalities.

"Combining our resources through this alliance will have atremendous impact on improved worker safety," he predicted.