OSHA Issues General Duty Clause Citations for Ergonomics

According to Assistant Secretary Henshaw, OSHA intends to continue targeting facilities for enforcement if they are not exercising and identifying solutions to on-the-job injuries and illnesses if there are solutions available. Henshaw believes that in order for OSHA to be effective, they must execute all four prongs of the ergonomics program - guidelines, outreach and assistance, the advisory committee and enforcement - or it's not going to work.

But for those of us in industry, this is a sensitive and scary proposition. The shipbuilding industry is apparently next on OSHA's list for voluntary guidelines. Can voluntary guidelines for general construction be too far behind? You can rest assured that MCAA is carefully monitoring this issue.