AAFA/OSHA Signs Ergonomics Agreement
Arlington, V.A.-based Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) signed an agreement that will align its members with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to better promote ergonomic programs industry-wide, according to a spokeswoman at AAFA.
“AAFA looks forward to working with OSHA to help our member companies as they strive to maintain a safe workplace,”said AAFA president Kevin Burke. “While the expertise that OSHA can provide AAFA’s members is invaluable, we also feel that our members will be just as helpful in providing OSHA with insights born of real-world experiences.”
Presently, OSHA does not have an official program set up. In 2001, the agency proposed to congress a one-size-fits-all workplace standards for business owners, but the bill was vetoed by lawmakers who felt it was too egregious to allow the agency to prosecute ergonomic violators, said the agency.
However, a recent report about a Cone Mills employee who died shortly after sustaining serious burns in an accident at the company’s Cliffside, N.C., dyeing facility, has some business owners reassessing their safety programs.
Beginning next month, AAFA will disseminate information about the benefits of well-organized ergonomic programs and how the rotation of employees’ job functions can minimize workplace injuries.
Health officials say the most common injuries in the workplace are hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain caused by repetitive movement.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of non-fatal work place injuries reported in 2001 was estimated at 333,800 cases. Manufacturing accounted for 54 percent of those cases, according to the bureau. Additionally, illnesses associated with repeated trauma, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and noise-induced hearing loss, accounted for 4 percent of the 5.2 million total workplace injuries and illnesses in 2001.
Apparel companies are beginning to notice the benefits that come with ergonomics programs.
“It promotes healthy employees and a more productive workplace,” said Subler.
Large apparel companies, such as San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Company, have made it a part of corporate policy. Since the mid-1990s, the denim manufacturer has implemented ergonomics programs at its manufacturing and distribution facilities, as well implementing a standard procedure for office space workers.
Levi’s spokeswoman Linda Butler said the core elements of program include employee education, work site analysis, job modification (making adjustments to how an activity is performed to lessen the chances of workplace injuries) and medical management.
A few years ago, Levi’s hired a team of ergonomic experts to evaluate the company’s work environment and modify the programs to meet the needs of the employees at its facilities, including the company’s headquarters in San Francisco, manufacturing and finishing plant in San Antonio Texas, as well as four distribution centers, located in the Midwest. Butler said a portion of Levi’s annual budget is earmarked for equipment such as adjustable chairs, workstations and automated work lifts. The company also offers onsite therapy programs at some of its facilities.
“[Levi’s] is constantly evaluating how office-related ergonomics program relates to new equipment that is being introduced to the workplace,” said Butler. “Our focus has been to get workers to report early on any level of discomfort they have that way we can take corrective actions very quickly, which will result in less heath problems and injury as well as less time out of work.”
OSHA administrator John Henshaw said: “We’re pleased that AAFA wants to work with us to make information on ergonomics best practices more widely available and more broadly implemented in their industry.” — Claudia Figueroa
