Musculoskeletal Injuries Rise in Construction
Absence of Ergonomics Standard Puts Workers at Risk
Each year more than 1.8 million workers suffer from back,
shoulder, knee, and other muskuloskeletal injuries and illnesses
that result from jobs involving heavy lifting, kneeling,
or repetitive work. Masonry, stonework, and plastering are
among the top 20 industries with the highest number of muskuloskeletal
disorders, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department
of Labor. On April 5, 2002, the Bush Administration introduced
a plan to address these injuries and illnesses. The plan,
intended to replace the OSHA Ergonomics Standard overturned
by the Administration last year, falls far short of the original
standard and will do little to protect working men and women.
It provides no legal protections or enforceable ergonomic
standards for workers, and would do nothing to protect workers
in the construction industry.
On April 17, recognizing the
overwhelming need to protect workers, Senators John Breaux
(D-LA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA)
introduced a bi-partisan bill to require the Department
of Labor to issue a new ergonomics standard within two years.
Joined by 25 other senators, the Breaux-Specter Ergonomics
Bill (S.2184) would cover all workers, including construction
workers, who are “exposed to workplace ergonomic
hazards.” The
Breaux-Specter proposal is not without precedent. Ergonomics
standards covering construction workers are already in
place in California and Washington state, as well as in
Europe
and Canada.
According to the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department, “Ergonomic
changes are generally not expensive and can be very simple.”
The following are types of
ergonomics changes:
- Use lighter materials, like lighter weight block
- Use better, ergonomically-designed tools that
may be lighter or require less force to operate
- Use carts, dollies, and hoists to move materials
- Store materials so they are easier to access
(not above
shoulder height or at ground level), and use handles when carrying
loads
- Get help when needed to handle heavy loads
- Use protective equipment like knee pads and shoulder
pads to reduce contact stresses of carrying materials
or kneeling work.
Source: AFL-CIO Safety & Health
Department
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For
more information log on to www.aflcio.org/safety/ergo.htm.
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