September 28, 2011

Not every workplace is required by Cal/OSHA to have an ergonomics program, but you may want to consider having one anyway.

If you have employees outside California, join us on October 11 for an informative webinar: Cal/OSHA vs. Federal OSHA: The Key Differences Multistate Employers Must Be Aware Of.

» Learn more

• Don't Wait For It To Be Required
  
  Employers are required to have a program to minimize repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) if more than one employee has suffered a work-related RMI while performing an identical work activity (i.e., the same repetitive motion task).
  
  If, say, one employee in your shipping department suffers a back injury while lifting a load, and another suffers a carpal tunnel injury while entering order data, this would not trigger the Cal/OSHA requirement.
  
  However, the two unrelated RMIs may be hinting at ergonomic risks lurking in your workplace - and one more injury in the right area and the program is a requirement.
  
  Instead of waiting for another RMI to happen, conduct accident investigations to establish the cause of the injuries. Are the circumstances of the injuries unique to the people involved, or do you see conditions or patterns that might lead to more?
• RMI Prevention Can Save Pain & Money
  
  Even if you've had no injuries, you still may want to consider instituting a program to minimize RMIs as a preventive measure. If your workers perform tasks that are notorious for creating RMIs (data entry, material handling, certain construction tasks, etc.), why wait until they report injuries to do something about it?
  
  RMIs tend to be expensive injuries. They can be difficult to diagnose, often have extended recovery periods, and are more likely than other injuries to have some sort of permanent work restriction associated with them after an employee has "recovered."
  
  Also, employees often have a tendency to let RMIs progress until they just can't take the pain and discomfort anymore, virtually guaranteeing that medical intervention will be necessary.
  
  By proactively developing and implementing a program to prevent RMIs that includes training for employees on how to recognize RMIs, and the importance of addressing them before they progress to the point where they need medical attention, you can significantly reduce workers' compensation costs, lost work time, and employee suffering. You'll also stay out of the regulatory oversight bullseye that multiple RMIs can trigger
• Demonstrate Your Safety Commitment To Employees
  
  Also, implementing an RMI program because you want to rather than because you have to has the added benefit of demonstrating to your employees that your commitment to safety goes beyond mere compliance with regulations - which will benefit all areas of your safety program.

Ergonomics Is Just One Area Where California and Federal Safety Regulations Differ

If you have workers outside the state, it's essential to know the key differences between California's safety rules and the federal rules. Our 90-minute webinar on October 11, Cal/OSHA vs. Federal OSHA: The Key Differences Multistate Employers Must Be Aware Of, will give you information on:

• The difference in both structure and intent between fed/OSHA programs and their Cal/OSHA counterparts
• How not having a General Duty Clause works in California's compliance scheme
• Why California's more aggressive injury reporting requirements tend to lead to increased citations and penalties for employers
• How Cal/OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) differ from the federal limits - and why
• The areas in which California delegates more autonomy to employers, including training and retraining requirements
• Where California's demands exceed those of federal OSHA - including the areas of ergonomics, failure to report, and more
• Cal/OSHA's aggressive stance on settlements and appeals
• Why you're more likely to get nailed as a repeat offender under the California rules
• And much more…

Register today!