Insurers, RMs Back Ergonomics Plans
Insurers and risk managers were quick to praise the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration after OSHA unveiled a voluntary program to reduce ergonomic injuries.
John Henshaw, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, said a four-part plan would be put in place that emphasizes training and consulting, rather than the strict benchmarks, regulatory threats and compensation mandates imposed by the Clinton Administration that were overturned by Congress. He said OSHA is dedicated to protecting workers through a combination of industry-targeted guidelines, tough enforcement measures, workplace outreach and advanced research.
Mike Phillipus, vice president of external affairs with the New York-based Risk and Insurance Management Society, said risk managers are "very pleased. One of the things that is good is that we want to educate employers and employees, as opposed to just coming down with a hard hammer."
Mr. Phillipus, risk manager of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company in Houston, said RIMS recently discussed some of these issues when they met with OSHA to update a partnership agreement signed in 1998. (RIMS is scheduled to announce a renewed "alliance" with OSHA during this week's annual conference in New Orleans.)
"We were expressing our interest in making sure there were voluntary programs, and in making sure there was interaction between the governmental agencies and those they monitor," he said. "In terms of these targeted guidelines, we're seeing them step up to meet some of the points of discussion we had with them."
John Savercool, vice president of federal affairs at the American Insurance Association in Washington, said the new guidelines are "reasonable, and we believe they will be effective." He said that "most importantly to property and casualty insurers, they do not contain the specific compensation mandates that were at the heart of AIA's opposition to the original OSHA ergonomics rule."
The Alliance of American Insurers in Downers Grove, Ill., hailed OSHA's plans to employ a variety of non-regulatory programs including grants, Web outreach, best practices, and a mentorship program to improve workplace ergonomics.
OSHA's program "incorporates three of the main components of our recommendations for revising the ergonomics standard[including] an aggressive education campaign, enhanced technical assistance, and partnership development," added Arlene Ryndak, loss control manager for the National Association of Independent Insurers in Des Plaines, Ill.
OSHA's approach, Mr. Henshaw explained, involves four parts:
Industry-specific and task-specific guidelines that, he said, will target industries and tasks "where muscular skeletal disorders exist and where we have information on successful strategies. We will bring on guidelines and best practices already developed"
A "strong and effective" enforcement strategy. Though yet to be developed by OSHA, enforcement is a critical part of the strategy, he said, noting that the plan will "coordinate inspections with a legal strategy designed for successful prosecution." Special emphasis will be placed on industries where serious ergonomic problems exist, he noted.
Effective outreach and assistance. Mr. Henshaw said OSHA plans to offer help to workers in small businesses, and will offer "advice and training on industry-specific and task-specific guidelines." OSHA will provide materials on its Web sites to support training, and will "make ergonomic training available through our 12 education centers across the country."
Research. Information from the National Academy of Science and from OSHA ergonomic forums, he said, has "made it clear there are many gaps remaining addressing ergonomic hazards." A national advisory committee is being established to "advise OSHA of these gaps," he said.
Reproduced from National Underwriter Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, April 15, 2002. Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.