AIHA Makes Position Statement to Support an Ergonomics Standard
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) recently published a Position Statement on Ergonomics (http://www.aiha.org/news-pubs/govtaffairs/Documents/ErgonomicsPositionstmnt100509.pdf ). The main purpose of the paper was to communicate their position regarding the role and benefits of ergonomics in the workplace and to encourage the development of ergonomic regulations and standards.
The reasoning behind supporting the adoption of these regulations is that they provide well designed jobs and processes for the workplace. Here is a summary of the benefits listed in the statement:
- Enhanced safety and health program performance
- Improved quality and productivity
- Reduction in errors
- Heightened employee morale
- Reduced compensation and operating costs
- Accommodations of diverse populations., including those with restrictions or disabilities
The AIHA stated that while ergonomic guidelines are effective when followed, not all companies are adopting sound ergonomic strategies. Based on this, they support the development of ergonomics-related reporting, regulations and standards to encourage a more consistent approach to ergonomics across industry.
The AIHA also supported private and government funded research in the field of ergonomics. While many studies have been conducted on ergonomics, there still is a need for the development of assessment tools and best practices, as well as additional research on work place exposure and risk for musculoskeletal disorders.
One of the major arguments that the AIHA puts forth to support this additional regulation are the costs of musculoskeletal injuries to our economy. These costs can sometimes be overlooked. However, the negative impact still exists from higher compensation costs, and lost wages and productivity, to name just a few. It is estimated that the ‘costs’ of not addressing ergonomics in the work-place is about 50 billion dollars annually.
