Initial Provisions of OSHA's Ergonomics Standard to Go Into Effect on Tuesday, January 16, 2001

Beginning Tuesday, January 16, 2001, all health care employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the final Ergonomics Rule (www.osha.gov) are required to provide the following information to ALL employees BEFORE a musculoskeletal disorder incident occurs:

• an explanation of the common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and their signs and symptoms
• the importance of reporting MSDs and their signs and symptoms early and the consequences of failing to report them early
• the kinds of risk factors, jobs and work activities associated with MSD hazards
• a short description of the requirements of OSHA's ergonomics program standard
• how to report MSDs and their signs and symptoms in the workplace

By including this important pro-active provision in the final standard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responded to the comments of ANA, other unions and professional associations who insisted that an OSHA Ergonomics Standard could only be fully effective if all employees have basic information about MSDs and how and why to report them promptly.

As of 1/16/01, employers must provide this information to all employees in written form or, if all employees have access, in electronic form. The information must be provided to new employees within 14 days of hiring. Employers must also post the information in a conspicuous place in the workplace (such as a bulletin board). OSHA believes that the posting requirement is necessary because many employees may not have immediate access to their original information sheet when they are beginning to develop an MSD.

OSHA is making it relatively easy for employers comply with the first 4 items noted above. They have provided 2 information sheets which can be downloaded from the web and given to employees:

1) Non-Mandatory Appendix A to §§1910.900: What You Need To Know About Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

http://www.osha-slc.gov/ergonomics-standard/regulatory/AppendixA.html

2) Non-Mandatory Appendix B Summary of the OSHA Ergonomics Program Standard

http://www.osha-slc.gov/ergonomics-standard/regulatory/regtext.html#appendixB

In order to satisfy the last provision about HOW to report MSDs and their signs and symptoms in their particular workplace, employers will need to provide worksite-specific information. For small employers, OSHA says that this could be as basic as telling them to report MSDs to a supervisor or safety official. Larger employers may use their existing reporting systems. OSHA demands only that, whatever approach is used, it must be accessible and carried out in an orderly way that is recognized and understood by the involved parties.

Beginning in October 2001, employers will need to take further action to comply with the standard when:

1) an employee experiences a work-related MSD involving either one or more days away from work, one or more days of limitations on work activities, medical treatment beyond first aid, or 7 days of persistent MSD signs or symptoms AND

2) the employee's job exposes them to risk factors that meet certain criteria spelled out in the standard.

Nurses should ask their employers when and how they will be receiving this federally mandated information which could help to protect them from potentially disabling back and other musculoskeletal disorders.

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