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Ergonomics

Ergonomics


Workers and unions are mobilizing to Stop the Pain! associated with RSIs and crippling back injuries. The fight is centered around three demands:

  • An OSHA ergonomics standard to protect all workers that requires employers to take action before workers are injured.
  • Action by employers to fix hazardous jobs that cause crippling back injuries and RSIs.
  • Fair compensation for workers crippled by back injuries or RSIs. Insurers and employers must recognize work-related RSIs and provide speedy compensation to injured workers.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and back injuries are disabling and expensive. Each year, RSIs force more than 600,000 workers to lose time from their jobs, making them the nation's biggest job safety problem. They account for one-third of all serious injuries and cost billions of dollars.

Final Ergonomics Standard: A Victory for Workers!

After 10 long years of struggle, workers in this country finally have won protections to prevent crippling repetitive strain injuries, the nation's biggest job safety problem. On Nov. 13, OSHA issued its final ergonomics standard, which will prevent hundreds of thousands of injuries each year. The final standard requires employers to implement ergonomics programs and fix jobs where musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur. While not as strong as the union movement had sought—since it does not require action until workers are injured and fails to cover all workers—the rule is a huge step forward and will bring about major improvements in workplace safety.

The promulgation of this new workplace protection is a major victory for workers, the union movement and safety and health activists. For years, Big Business groups and anti-worker members of Congress have waged a relentless campaign to block the ergonomics standard.

But the battle over the ergonomics standard is not over, as business groups and their allies in Congress are expected to continue their efforts to kill the worker safety rules. Opponents of the new safety standard are expected to continue their legislative fight and already have begun their legal fight in the courts.



The following materials are available to help you get involved in the fight to defend the ergonomics standard and to Stop the Pain!

Ergo Alert Archives

Legislative Actions on OSHA's Ergonomics Standard/What You Can Do

Facts about Ergonomics/Repetitive Strain Injuries

Key Studies on Ergonomics and the Workplace

Ergonomic Standards in the States

International Ergonomic Standards/Guidlines/Ordinances

Other countries have standards/guidelines/ordinances that are not currently available online.
  • Australia: Victorian Code of Practice (Manual Handling 1988).
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO): has several standards concerning ergonomics.
  • United Kingdom: Health and Safety Executive Manual Handling Operations Regulations, 1992.Health and Safety Executive Display Screen Equipment Regulations, 1992.

Other Information on Ergonomics


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