Ergonomics Standard at a Glance
January 1, 2001 3 minutes read
Ergonomics Standard at a Glance
What injuries are covered?
The standard covers musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by exposure to risk factors in the workplace. Those include disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels, or spinal discs caused by workplace exposure to one or more of the following risk factors: repetition, force, awkward postures, contact stress, and vibration. The standard does not address injuries caused by slips, trips, falls, vehicle accidents, or similar accidents.
What does the standard require?
All employers must provide employees with basic information about:
• Common MSDs and their signs and symptoms.
• The importance of reporting MSDs, and signs and symptoms, as soon as possible.
• How to report MSDs in the workplace.
• Risk factors, job and work activities associated with MSD hazards.
• A brief description of Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s ergonomics standard.
• No further action is needed unless an employee reports an MSD or persistent signs and symptoms of an MSD.
What if there’s a reported injury?
Employers must promptly determine whether an MSD or its signs or symptoms is an MSD incident. Employers may request assistance of a health care professional to make that determination. An MSD incident means an MSD is work-related, and requires days away from work, restricted work, or medical treatment beyond first aid, or the signs or symptoms last for seven or more consecutive days after reporting.
To determine whether the MSD incident meets the standard’s "action trigger," employers review the worker’s job to determine whether it routinely involves exposure to one or more of the five ergonomic risk factors on one or more days a week.
How do employers respond to an action trigger?
Employers can use a "Quick Fix" option, and not implement a complete program, for problems that can be resolved in 90 days in a job where only one MSD has occurred and where no more than two MSDs have been reported in the preceding 18 months.
If the problem cannot be corrected in 90 days, or if a quick fix is not applicable, employers must develop and implement a full ergonomics program for that job and others just like it with the following elements: management leadership and employee participation; job hazard analysis and control; training; MSD management; program evaluation; and record keeping.
What is work restriction protection? (WRP)
This provision provides protection to workers who are on temporary work restriction. That includes maintaining 100% of earnings and full benefits for employees who are not on restricted work. Employees removed from work will receive 90% of earnings and 100% of benefits. WRP benefits last until either: (1) the employee is safely able to return to work; (2) a health care professional determines the employee can never return to the former job; or (3) 90 calendar days have passed, whichever comes first.
The standard also allows for an employee to receive a second opinion from his/her own health care professional (HCP) about the need for work restrictions. In the case of a dispute, the standard states: "If the two HCPs are unable to resolve their disagreement quickly, you and the employee, through your respective HCPs, must, within five business days after receipt of the second HCP’s opinion, designate a third HCP to review the determinations of the two HCPs, at no cost to the employee."
When does it go into effect?
The standard becomes effective Jan. 16, 2001, but it includes a phase-in period.
Employers must begin to distribute information on the standard to employees and begin receiving and responding to reports of injuries no later than Oct. 14, 2001. Employers must also meet the following time frames for specific requirements of the standard:
• Determination of action trigger within seven calendar days after employee has experienced an MSD.
• MSD management within seven calendar days after it’s determined job meets the action trigger.
• Management leadership and employee participation within 30 calendar days after job meets action trigger.
• Train employees involved in setting up and managing ergonomics program within 45 calendar days after job meets action trigger.
• Train current employees, supervisors, or team leaders within 90 calendar days after job meets action trigger.
• Job hazard analysis within 60 calendar days after job meets action trigger.
• Implement initial controls within 90 calendar days after job meets action trigger.
• Program evaluation within three years after job meets action trigger.
• Implement permanent controls no later than Jan. 18, 2005.
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, DC.
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