June 12, 2002—Grocery stores and poultry processing will be the focus of the next two sets of industry-specific guidelines to reduce ergonomic-related injuries, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health John Henshaw announced recently. Representatives from both industries will work with OSHA to develop the guidelines.
“The number of ergonomic-related injuries suffered by workers in the retail grocery store industry continues to rank near the top of the list,” Henshaw explained. “While the rates in poultry processing aren’t as high, workers still suffer from too many upper extremity disorders, such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Draft guidelines for each of these industries are expected to be ready for public comment later this year. The guidelines will be made available for review on OSHA’s website.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced April 18 that OSHA would work with representatives of the nursing home profession on the first set of ergonomic guidelines. That announcement set into motion the agency’s plan to reduce ergonomic injuries in the workplace which focuses on a combination of industry-targeted guidelines, tough enforcement measures, workplace outreach, advanced research and efforts to protect Hispanic and other immigrant workers.
