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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2011)
April 15, 2011:NWLP 4/12/11 10:17 AM Page 4 OR-OSHA ergonomics consultants can help prevent injuries By DON McINTOSH Associate Editor For 20 years, unions have tried to get the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to re- quire employer action to prevent er- gonomic injuries — disorders like carpal tunnel and tendonitis that are caused by strain or repetitive motion in poorly designed work stations. But workers’ health is political, and the political system on this issue, as with many others, has been more responsive to big business than organ- ized labor. Congress intervened in the late 1990s to prevent OSHA from im- plementing ergonomic requirements, and that legislation still stands. However, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been incremental improve- ments. OSHA and its state-level counterparts have tried to make it easy for businesses to voluntarily im- plement ergonomic prevention — by making information available, and providing free consultations. The state-run Oregon OSHA em- ploys two staff members who go out (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Fax Number: (503) 288-3320 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150, PORTLAND, OR 97213 PAGE 4 to offices, factories, bus yards, and other workplaces to look at work sta- tions and make recommendations to employers on how to prevent muscu- loskeletal disorders, as ergonomic in- juries are more properly known. [Technically, the term ergonomics is the science of fitting the work to the worker.] The two, Nathan Sweet and Steve Morrissey, visit both union and non- union workplaces. They’re members of Service Employees International Union Local 503. The Labor Press asked them to identify some of the most common ergonomic hazards they find. Unsurprisingly, it varies de- pending on the kind of workplace. In jobs that require physical exer- tion, proper lifting is key. Back prob- lems brought on by improper lifting are among the most common work- place injuries. Injuries happen when workers stoop to lift something heavy, or try to lift an object higher than their shoulders, or lift more than they should try, or twist or turn while they lift. Aging workers, in particular, may not realize the cumulative effect of excessive lifting. In any lift, good body positioning can be the difference between success and a back injury. Bend your knees, keep your back straight, avoid twist- ing, and know where you’re going, Sweet says. At construction work sites, Sweet stresses the importance of planning the work, considering where lifts are going to happen, and making sure there’s adequate space, enough em- ployees to do the lift safely, and the right tools. In recent years, a multi- tude of new tools have been devel- oped to eliminate ergonomic hazards — tools that lessen muscle strain, re- duce the amount of hand force re- quired, eliminate the need for awk- ward postures, and expose bodies to fewer sharp edges. Examples include extension poles for overhead work, easy-hold gloves that attach to dry- wall mud pans, vacuum machines to help with lifting and placing heavy windows, wheeled kneelers to reduce knee and lower back stress for work done close to floors, and reduced-vi- bration power tools. For office workers, good office chairs are vital — “good” meaning they are adjustable and in proper op- erating condition. Adjustable chairs are becoming much more common, but ironically, many office workers don’t know how to use them properly. “Make sure you understand how to adjust your seat,” Sweet said. “In an office setting, most of the time, most of the people I speak with don’t know how to adjust their office chair.” NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Washington’s OSHA counterpart — the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries — has an on- line tutorial showing proper seat ad- justment, at http://1.usa.gov/e7D6pp. For driving occupations, posture makes a big difference, Morrissey says, and it’s worth taking the time to properly adjust the seat, steering wheel, headrest, and rearview mir- rors. Prolonged driving is associated with low back pain, and neck and shoulder trouble. Ergonomic improvements aren’t just the right thing to do — employers also save money when they prevent injuries, both directly through lower workers’ compensation insurance pre- miums and indirectly through less lost work time, less need to replace em- ployees, and less productivity loss due to workers being in pain and dis- comfort. Not only that, but changes to prevent ergonomic injuries may also speed up workflow and increase pro- ductivity. Since ergonomic injuries are often the result of cumulative stress, Sweet says it’s important that employees re- port symptoms as early as possible — so that injuries can be prevented. “Each workplace culture is unique, but [early reporting] is ideal,” Sweet said. “It’s a cost saver for everyone.” While Oregon OSHA’s ergonomic consultations are free, it’s the em- ployer that has to request it. But union workers can give employers a nudge. And for workers or union reps who want to get up to speed on ergonom- ics, there are good online resources available. • For construction workers, the Center for Construction Research and Training (formerly known as The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights) created by the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Department, has lots of information at its web site, www.cpwr.com. • OR-OSHA’s ergonomics page has downloadable guides for office, construction, health care, and other workplaces: www.orosha.org/subjects/ergo- nomics.html. • Washington L&I has many er- gonomic offerings among its online courses and videos at www.lni.wa. gov/Safety/Train Tools. APRIL 15, 2011
