From the Editor

If Doctors and Professors
Built Walls...

Jennie Farnsworth, Managing Editor
Jen@lionhrtpub.com

Every Christmas, I head over to my sister's house to spend the day with my niece and nephew. Along with other assorted gifts, I brought my nephew the Bob the Builder Bricklaying Game.

After he ripped off the wrapping, his eyes glowed with anxious glee — he couldn't wait to play with it. I offered that we could play it together: he could be the mason and I would be OSHA, checking in on occasion and handing out fines whenever he lifted too many bricks for too long of a period of time.

I think we can all agree that the main objectives of the ergonomics guidelines set by OSHA are the best for everyone. Create reasonable guidelines so that workers are not injured needlessly, which in turn helps owners. It's a win-win situation.

Guidelines are funny things though. Who should create the guidelines? How should they be implemented? And most importantly, how far should we go?

Last month, the Labor Secretary, Elaine Chao, announced the appointments of 15 people to OSHA's National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE). The 15 people have impressive qualifications; doctors, lawyers, engineers and professors who have had long careers working with industrial ergonomics, work rehabilitation, occupational safety and risk control. Out of the whole group though, how many of those people own a business and/or work on the labor side of any industries, rather than behind a desk? Two, one who is a Director of Worker Safety and Human Resources (still a desk jockey of sorts) and the other — the only business owner — has a construction company.

Now, I can read as many books as I like about an industry but actually being out in the field and knowing the ins and outs is a whole different story. With all of my book smarts, would you want me to stand over your shoulder and tell you how your workforce shouldn't build a wall?

I understand that the people appointed to NACE are well qualified to serve on that board. But there are two sides to the ergonomics issue: the physical tolerances of the human body and the daily ins and outs of each industry. They have covered the first part fully with their chosen appointees, but the second is lacking.

There is also some question as to the implementation of ergonomics between large and small businesses. In response, a press release in November states that the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and OSHA have formed a partnership to offer ergonomics outreach and assistance efforts for small businesses.

"With the new guidelines and this agreement, OSHA can take a big step in listening to the concerns of small businesses," says Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. "The old adversarial model will be replaced with outreach and education. This new step toward cooperation is great news for small business owners and their employees alike."

"This sounds of interest," I thought to myself. So I checked the SBA and OSHA websites, where they supposedly have information posted on ergonomic integration for small businesses. Nothing. At press time, two months later, neither site had a single thing posted concerning this initiative.

So where is this "big step in listening to the concerns of small businesses" when it comes to ergonomics? It's certainly not with NACE, and OSHA's partnership with SBA has yet to show anything.

Which brings me back to my original questions: Who should create the guidelines? How should they be implemented? And most importantly, how far should we go?

Where exactly do you think the owners of small businesses, who actually know the industries, fit in?