In an effort to gain further insights into MSD (musculoskeletal disorder) injuries in the workplace, a category of injury currently considered underreported, OSHA is proposing a change to the workplace injury recordkeeping OSHA 300 Log-the addition of a column for MSDs specifically. Currently, MSDs are difficult to identify through the log, with no single column allotted.
Clearly, for employers, reporting practices may change. In the bigger picture, however, it sounds like David Michaels, new Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, is interested in creating tighter regulations around MSD injuries and prevention in the workplace.
Click here to submit a comment to the hearing committee prior to March 15.
In case you haven't heard, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has just announced its top 12 legislative and regulatory issues for 2010. It’s no surprise that #3 is “Advance a Safety and Health Program Rule.” In essence, ASSE wants OSHA to require that employers take proactive responsibility for employee health and safety, including assessing risks in their workplace. If this legislation passes, hopefully more organizations will treat injuries as a serious threat to employee satisfaction and productivity, all of which impact resources and the bottom line.
P.S. We also like issue #8, which argues that ergonomics should not be considered as a one-size-fits-all approach but, rather, as a risk-based, non-prescriptive, cooperative approach. After all, no two employers or employees are exactly the same. Why should ergonomic remedies be any different?
To read all 12 issues, go to:
http://ehstoday.com/safety/management/asse-announces-top-legislative-regulatory-issues-8541/
Here’s
an interesting editorial piece from the NY Times on Obama’s nomination of David
Michaels for the head of OSHA. It references an article (page 10)
written by Michaels himself in December.
I’m excited about this nomination! Michaels seems interested
in promoting a “culture” of safety, and restoring the government’s progress in
improving workers' safety—if his nomination is confirmed by the senate, we may
see changes in many companies’ injury prevention planning.