OSHA backs off on ergonomic column for injury records

Heads up: The OSHA proposal to add an ergonomic injury column to illness and injury logs has been put on the back burner -for now.  Under the proposed rule, employers required to record injuries and illness on the OSHA 300 log would have to use a new column to indicate which injuries were musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  But OSHA withdrew the proposed rule to get more input on its impact from small business and advocacy groups.

Other rules also halted
In its release announcing the rule's withdraw, OSHA noted that MSDs accounted for 28% of all injuries and illnesses requiring time off of work in 2009.  OSHA also indicated that most small businesses aren't required to maintain OSHA 300 logs.  But outside pressure forced the agency to slow down on the proposed rule -and other new enforcement efforts. 

OSHA also recently halted proposed changes to its occupational noise exposure standard.  The MSD rule was originally set to take effect at the beginning of this year, but in it's semi-annual regulatory agenda, OSHA said the earliest it would start was Jan. 1, 2012.  OSHA said the next step will be a meeting with small business. Details of that meeting will be announced within the next month.
Info: tinyurl.com/ergo381

Reprinted with permission from:

Safety Compliance Alert 2/7/11