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| In general, occupational standards
and legislation are proposed as a means of assessing,
evaluating and potentially controlling workplace
related hazards. In 1998, ergonomic requirements
came into effect as part of British Columbia's new
Occupational Health & Safety Regulations. It
is the first and only province in Canada to require
employers to develop and maintain an Ergonomics
Program. It is very similar to OSHAs proposed program
that is outlined below.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) in the United States is currently proposing
legislating an ergonomics program standard. OSHA
believes that the proposed standard is needed
to bring protection to employees in general industry
who are at a significant risk of incurring a work-related
musculoskeletal disorder, but are currently without
an ergonomics program.
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| The ergonomics regulation will incorporate two
standardized programs: |
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| 1. The basic program,
which will be required by employers with manual
handling or manufacturing production positions.
Basic program requirements will include: |
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Management leadership &
employee participation in ergonomics program |
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Ergonomic hazard information
& reporting |
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Job hazard analysis and control
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Ergonomic training to management
and employees |
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Musculoskeletal disorder management |
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Program evaluation |
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Record Keeping |
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| 2. General industry employers
who have reported a musculoskeletal disorder
(MSD) to OSHA will require the full
program. The program will apply to
the reported position as well as all position
with similar physical demands. It will include:
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All of the basic program requirements |
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Ergonomic hazard analysis of
the position in question |
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Implementation of ergonomic
administrative & engineering controls |
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Training for both the employee
& supervisor associated with the position |
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Provisions of MSD management |
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Access to a heath care provider
(if MSD is covered) |
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| The proposed standards further state that an employer
has met the requirements of the program when: the
risk factors have been eliminated or considerably
reduce musculoskeletal hazards. It is also stated
that an employer can discontinue parts of the program,
providing the above criteria have been satisfied
and no "covered" MSD reports are filed
for the succeeding three years. |
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| As it stands today in Canada, an ergonomic standard
will be beneficial to both employers and employees.
The 1998 Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB)
report stated that employers are paying approximately
$6,892 per claim for MSDs. This number reaches approximately
$75,000 when all costs are totalled. In addition
to this, employees are incurring an average of 75
lost work days. As a result employees are suffering
from MSDs that could potentially lead to permanent
disability preventing workers from returning to
work, or worse impeding their ability to perform
simple daily living activities. Imposing a standardized
ergonomics program will not only assist in ensuring
employees exposure to ergonomic risk factors is
reduced, but also will subsequently decrease the
amount employers are paying for MSD related claims.
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