The Proposed OSHA Standard Related to Ergonomics

Abstract

This roundtable discussion will be devoted to the proposed OSHA Standard related to Ergonomics which is scheduled to be published the first week in October. The discussion will be timely and important. This is a very controversial topic. The participants have been selected from different backgrounds and opinions. Barbara Silverstein is the head of the standard writing team and is on leave at OSHA in Washington, D.C. from her regular employment with the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Deborah Berkowitz is the Director of Safety and Health of a national labor union (United Food and Commercial Workers) and has been actively pushing for better ergonomic accommodation for workers. Gregory Worrell is the Corporate Ergonomics Director of a major meatpacking company (Monfort Inc.) and has extensive experience in establishing and conducting Ergonomics programs. Thomas Albin is a corporate level Ergonomist for 3M and is responsible for a considerable part of that company's Ergonomics effort and has extensive experience in establishing and conducting Ergonomics programs. Todd Brown is a Senior Research Engineer with the Association of American Railroads who has considerable experience in funding and conducting ergonomic research for application in the railroad environment. William Marras is a leading researcher and practitioner in the field of Ergonomics, Biomechanics, and Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Thomas Armstrong is a pioneer in the research and practice in the fields of Ergonomics and Biomechanics as they relate to Cumulative Trauma Disorders. These are talented, well respected people in their areas of expertise and will bring the latest thinking to this roundtable. This roundtable will not be a rehash of old stale ideas. The proposed standard is new and very important to the field of Ergonomics and to industry.