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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