The document summarizes OSHA's new ergonomics standard from 2000. It provides a chronology of OSHA's work on ergonomics from the 1980s onwards. The standard applies to all general industry employers and covers musculoskeletal disorders caused by exposure to risk factors like repetition, force, awkward positions and vibration. It requires employers to provide training, do job hazard analyses, and implement controls once an MSD is reported. It also includes requirements for an MSD management program and record keeping.

1. OSHA’s New Ergonomics
Standard
29 CFR 1910.900

2. Student Handouts
•Section 1 – Chronology
•Section 2 – Standard (App. A-E)
•Section 3 – Compliance Dates
•Section 4 – FAQ
•Section 5 – Study of Work
•Section 6 – Options in Ergonomics
Table W-1 Basic Screening Tool

3. 29 CFR 1910.900
• Effective Date:
60 days after publication date of
final rule (11-14-00) or:
January 15, 2001

4. Key Chronology
• Early 80s – OSHA begins discussing
ergonomic issues with labor, trade
and professional organizations
• 5/16/86 – OSHA begins pilot to reduce
back injuries based on review of
injury records – uses NIOSH’s Work
Practices Guide for Manual Lifting

5. Key Chronology
• 5/1/87 - OSHA cites Chrysler for
recognized ergonomic hazards
(5(a)(1)
• 8/30/90 – OSHA publishes
ergonomic guidelines for
meatpacking industry

6. Key Chronology
• 1/15/92 – Special emphasis
program inspections –
meatpacking
• 8/3/92 – ANPR on ergonomics
published
• 7/95 – Congress prohibits use of
OSHA FY 95 funds to issue
proposed or final ergo standard

7. Key Chronology
• 10/95 – Congress prohibits use
of OSHA FY 96 funds to issue
proposed or final ergo standard
or guidelines
• 10/97 – Congress ok’s work on
standard but prohibits issuance
of proposed or final standard or
guidelines. Last time restricted

8. Key Chronology
• 11/23/99 – OSHA publishes proposed
ergo standard
• 11/08/00 – National Association of
Manufacturing – Petition for Review,
U.S. Court of Appeal for D.C Circuit
• 11/14/00 – Final standard published

9. Statistical Data
• Each year 1.8 million workers
report work-related MSDs
• About 600,000 are serious
enough to result in lost time
• 4.6 million MSDs will be
prevented in first 10 years

10. Statistical Data
• 102 million workers at 6.1
million worksites protected
• $9.1 billion average savings
annually
• $27,700 savings in direct cost
for each MSD prevented

11. Statistical Data (costs)
• Employers will pay $4.5 billion
annually
• Fixing an individual workstation
averages $250 per year.
• MSDs costs nation up to $50 billion
per year
• $1 out of every $3 spent on WC goes
for MSD-related claims

12. Purpose of Standard
• “…to reduce the number and severity
of …(MSDs) caused by exposure to
risk factors in the workplace. This
standard does not address injuries
caused by slips, trips, falls, vehicle
accidents, or similar accidents.”
• Unlike proposed rule, static posture
and cold temperatures are not
included.

13. Who’s covered?
• All general industry employers
are covered by the standard
• Does not apply to employers
covered by OSHA’s construction,
maritime or agricultural
standards, or employers who
operate a railroad.

14. What’s covered?
• MSDs
Disorder of the muscles, nerves,
tendons, ligaments, joints,
cartilage, blood vessels, or
spinal discs.

15. Workplace exposures
• Workplace MSDs are caused by
exposure to the following risk
factors:
• Repetition
• Force
• Awkward positions
• Contact stress
• Vibration

16. The Ergonomics
Standard
• MSDs in the following areas of
the body that have been
associated with exposure to risk
factors:
Neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm,
wrist, hand, abdomen (hernia
only), back, knee, ankle and foot

17. Ergonomics Standard
• All employers must provide
employees basic information
about:
– Common MDSs and their signs and
symptoms
– Importance of reporting MSDs, and
signs and symptoms, as soon as
possible

18. Ergonomics Standard
(con’t)
– How to report MSDs in the
workplace
– Risk factors, job and work
activities associated with MSD
hazards
– A brief description of OSHA’s
ergonomics standard

19. Ergonomics Standard
(con’t)
• Info must be:
– Written form or
– If all employees have electronic access,
electronic form
– Provided to new employees within 14
days
– Posted in conspicuous place
Note: This information may be found in Appendix
A & B.

20. Ergonomics Standard
(con’t)
No further action
needed/until unless
employee reports an MSD
or persistent signs or
symptoms of an MSD.

21. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
1. Determine whether MSD or its
signs or symptom is an MSD
incident.
– MSD is work-related, and requires
days away from work, restricted
work, or medical treatment
beyond FA, or signs and
symptoms last for 7 or more days
after reporting.

22. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
MSD Signs (examples):
– Decreased range of motion
– Deformity
– Decreased grip strength; and
– Loss of muscle function

23. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
MSD Symptoms (examples):
– Pain
– Numbness
– Tingling
– Burning
– Cramping
– Stiffness

24. Common MSDs
Carpal tunnel syndrome Rotator cuff
De Quervain’s Disease Trigger finger
Tendonitis Herniated spinal
Sciatica disc
Raynaud’s Phenomenon Low back pain
Epicondylitis Carpet layer’s
Tension neck syndrome knee
Hand-arm vibration syndrome

25. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
2. Determine whether the MSD
incident meets the standard’s
“ACTION TRIGGER.” (See Table W-1)
• Review worker’s job to determine if
it routinely involves exposure to
one or more of the 5 ergonomic risk
factors on one or more days a
week.

26. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
• Repetition
As an example, repeating same
motions every few seconds for 2
hours at a time, or using a
device (such as a keyboard and/or
mouse) steadily for more than 4
hours daily.

27. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
• Force
As an example, lifting more than 75
pounds at any one time, or
pushing/pulling with more than 20
pounds of initial force (such as
pushing a 65 pound box across a tile
floor for more than 2 hours per day.

28. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
• Awkward Position
As an example, repeatedly raising or
working with the hands above the head
for more than two hours a day, or
working with the back, neck or wrists
bent for more than two hours total per
day.

29. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
• Contact Stress
As an example, using the hand or
knee as a hammer more than ten
times an hour for more than two
hours total per day.

30. Employer requirements once
an MSD has been reported
• Vibration
As an example, using tools or
equipment that typically have high
vibration levels ( such as chainsaws,
jack hammers, percussive tools) for
more than 30 minutes per day or tools
with moderate vibration levels (such
as jig saws, grinders, etc.) for more
than two hours per day.

31. If you meet “Action
Trigger”
• Can use a “Quick Fix” option,
and not implement a complete
program if:
– Problem can be resolved in 90 days
in a job where only 1 MSD has
occurred, and where no more than
two MSDs have been reported in
the preceding 18 months.

32. If “Quick Fix” not
applicable – full program
1. Management Leadership and
Employee Participation
2. Job Hazard Analysis and Control
3. Training
4. MSD Management
– Work Restriction Program (WRP)
5. Program Evaluation
6. Recordkeeping

33. Management Leadership and
Employee Participation
• Assign and communicate
responsibilities for setting up and
managing the ergonomics program.
• Provide designated persons with
authority, resources and information
necessary to meet responsibilities.

34. Management Leadership and
Employee Participation
• Ensure company policies and
practices encourage employee
participation in the program, as
well as early reporting of MSDs,
their signs and symptoms and
hazards.

35. Management Leadership and
Employee Participation
• Have ways for employees to report
MSDs and promptly respond to those
reports.
• Ensure employees are included in the
development, implementation and
evaluation of company’s ergonomics
program.

36. Job Hazard Analysis and
Control
• Include all employees who perform
the same job where an MSD exists,
and observe employees performing
the job.
• Use one or more of the job hazard
analysis tools provided in the
standard (Appendix D), or any other
reasonable method appropriate to
the job and relevant risk factors
being addressed.

37. Job Hazard Analysis and
Control
• Fix problem jobs to control
hazards or reduce them to the
extent feasible.

38. Training
• Provide initial training for
employees, supervisors and
team leaders within 90 days
after employee’s job meets the
Action Trigger.

39. Training
• Provide initial training to each
employee involved in setting up and
managing an ergonomics program
within 45 days after an employee’s
job has be the Action Trigger.
Training will include MSD signs,
symptoms and hazards, reporting
MSDs, the ergonomics program, and
how to implement and evaluate
controls used to address hazards.

40. Training
• Provide follow-up training every
three years.

41. MSD Management
• Provide, an no cost to employee,
access to a health care
professional, evaluation and
follow-up of an MSD incident,
and any temporary work
restrictions determined to be
necessary.

42. MSD Management
• Work Restriction Protection (WRP)
WRP must be provided to employees
who receive temporary work
restrictions. This includes maintain
100% of earnings and full benefits for
employees who require limitations on
their work activities or temporary
alternate.

43. MSD Management
• Employees removed form work will
receive 90% of earnings and 100% of
benefits. WRP benefits last until
either:
– The employee is safely able to
return to work; or
– A health care professional
determines the employee can
never return to the former job; or

44. MSD Management
– 90 calendar days have passed,
whichever comes first.
– Standard allows for an employee to
receive a second opinion from
his/her own health care
professional about the need for
work restrictions, and a dispute
resolution process.

45. Program Evaluation
• Evaluate the ergonomics program at
least every three years.
• Correct any deficiencies in the
program.
• Involve employees in the evaluation.

46. Recordkeeping
• Employers with 11 or more
employees (including part-time
or temporary) must keep written
or electronic records for three
years or until replaced by
updated records.

47. Grandfather Clause
• Employers who currently have
ergonomics programs in place
may continue to implement their
program instead of complying
with the standard, provided the
following criteria are met:

48. Grandfather Clause
• Program is written and was
implemented before Nov. 14, 2000.
• Program elements include
management leadership, employee
participation and job hazard analysis
and control, training, and program
evaluation.
• An MSD management policy must be
implemented by Jan. 16, 2002.

49. Grandfather Clause
• Management Leadership:
– Effective MSD reporting system
– Prompt responses to reports
– Clear program responsibilities
– Regular communication with
employees about the program

50. Grandfather Clause
• Employee Participation:
– Demonstrated by early reporting of
MSDs
– Active involvement by employees
and their representatives in the:
•Implementation
•Evaluation and
•Future development of your
program

51. Grandfather Clause
• Job Hazard Analysis and Control
“As demonstrated by a process that
identifies, analyzes, and uses feasible
engineering, work practice, and
administrative controls to control MSD
hazards or to reduce MSD hazards to the
levels below those in the hazard
identification tools in Appendix D to this
section or to the extent feasible, and
evaluates controls to assure that they
are effective.”

52. Grandfather Clause
• Training
– Train managers, supervisors and
employees in your program and
their roles
– Importance of early reporting
– Identification of MSD hazards in
jobs in your workplace
• Methods your taking to control them

53. Grandfather Clause
• Program Evaluation
– Regular reviews of program elements
and effectiveness of program using
measures as:
• Reductions in the number of jobs
posing MSD hazards to employees
• Correction of identified deficiencies in
the program

54. Grandfather Clause
• Program Evaluation (con’t)
• Reductions in the number of jobs
posing MSD hazards to employees
• Correction of identified deficiencies in
the program

55. Grandfather Clause
• Program Evaluation
– At least one review of the
elements and effectiveness of the
program must have taken place
prior to 1/16/01
– By 1-16-02 must have policy that
provides MSD management as
specified by the standard.

56. Grandfather Clause
• “Model Programs”
– Ergonomics Program Management
Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants
– NIOSH’s “Elements of Ergonomics
Programs”

57. Further Information…
• For further information and
assistance on OSHA’s New
Ergonomic Standard contact:
Chuck Brickman, MA, OHST, CET
Brickman Associates
2304 Providence Ct.
Naperville, IL 60565
Cbrick1@email.msn.com
http://safetyservices.cjb.net

58. Questions…