OSHA Update: Industry Specific Guidelines and Four-Pronged Approach for Ergonomics, Evacuations

Guidelines: Making slow but steady progress, this past fall OSHA published its first set of industry-specific guidelines on ergonomics. Focusing on the nursing home industry, the first set of guidelines consists of three components: management practices, work-site analysis and control methods. The key guidelines are found in the control methods section, wherein OSHA suggests changes to equipment, work practices and work methods. Employers in the retail grocery and poultry processing industries, both of which are targeted for the next set of guidelines, should expect to see a similar format.

Four-Pronged Approach: In addition to publishing the proposed guidelines, OSHA has clarified that it is adopting a four-pronged approach to ergonomics consisting of: (1) industry or task specific guidelines (2) outreach and assistance (3) a national advisory committee and (4) enforcement.

Evacuations: In November 2002, OSHA also published revised exit route standards to clarify and make more user friendly its requirement for plans and procedures for exiting buildings safely in emergencies. On January 15, 2003, OSHA followed this up with a fact sheet describing actions employers in high-rise buildings should take during emergencies to ensure safe evacuations. Both documents underscore the need for all employers to plan for emergencies.