More evidence of the need for an ergonomic standard

Details

• Personal Author:
  Biddle J ; Roberts K
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: In 1999, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed regulations designed to reduce work related inquiries by limiting worker exposure to "ergonomic risk factors." Congress subsequently overturned the regulations. We provide additional evidence on earnings losses attributable to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and thus on the need for an ergonomic standard. METHODS: Regression techniques are used to analyze data from a survey of injured workers that has been matched to employer-reported earnings data covering pre- and post-injury periods, and to workers' compensation claims records. RESULTS: MSDs lead to large and persistent earnings losses. Cost estimates used by OSHA to justify the 1999 EPS are corroborated. Losses are greatest among workers who file workers compensation claims, but nonclaimants also have losses. CONCLUSIONS: Earnings losses and lost productivity associated with work-related MSDs are substantial and an ergonomic standard could be cost effective. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Ergonomics Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Earnings Losses Employee-exposure Ergonomic Standard Health-surveys Human-factors-engineering Information-processing Injuries Injury-prevention Lost-work-days Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Musculoskeletal Disorder Regulations Repetitive-work Risk-factors Sociological-factors Standards Worker-health Workers' Compensation

  More +
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  329-337
• Volume:
  45
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041527
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2004 Apr; 45(4):329-337
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeff Biddle, Department of Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
• Email:
  biddle@msu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University, Department of Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19950930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  19990929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:52c169f954f9feb2d6f14a77154e322d233da298a2b4753632e56ba464237877b6943cb5ba5d162639976e5fd079be7717b622908e7b31ea3422a0832b65bb50
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194070/cdc_194070_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 178.79 KB ]