Are you a California employer with 10 or more employees; and

Does your business have at least one job that has been the predominant cause (50% or more) of medically diagnosed repetitive motion injuries or musculoskeletal disorders that have occurred to at least two employees doing identical work activities within the last twelve months?

If you answered yes to both questions you are required to have an ergonomics program that complies with California regulation Title 8, Article 106, Section 5110 effective July 1, 1997.

The ergonomics program must:

Evaluate for exposures that caused MSDs, each job, which has been the predominant cause of diagnosed MSDs for two or more employees in the last 12 months

Correct exposures that caused MSDs or minimize exposures through the use of engineering and administrative controls

Provide employees with training that explains the employer’s ergonomics program, the exposures that have been associated with MSDs, the symptoms and consequences of MSDs and the importance of early reporting symptoms and injuries to the employer.

You should have an ergonomics program, even if you are not required to have one, if:

Your employees have experienced job-related injuries or illnesses diagnosed as musculoskeletal injuries that a licensed physician has objectively identified; or

Your business is in an industry that typically has a substantial number of musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs). Typical industries and jobs where MSDs occur are:

Administrative/Office areas

Healthcare

Laboratory areas

Manufacturing

Manual Material Handling areas

For more information contact Mark Lawrence at Ergonomics Today.Com