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| .Volume 2, Number 3 |
July, 2001 |
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 OSHA Rule On Record Keeping For Workplace Injuries To Go Into Effect as Scheduled  WASHINGTON
-- Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that an
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on record
keeping would largely go into effect as scheduled on January 1, 2002."This rule is a big step forward in making workplaces safer for employees, which is our goal," Chao said. "It is written in plain language and simplifies the employer's decision-making process." The final record keeping rule is the culmination of an effort that began in the 1980s to improve how the government tracks occupational injuries and illnesses. The rule increases employee involvement, creates simpler forms and gives employers more flexibility to use computers to meet OSHA regulatory requirements. The Department will seek comment on two proposed modifications to the rule's record keeping requirements. First, the Department will propose that the criteria for recording work-related hearing loss not be implemented for one year pending further investigation into the level of hearing loss that should be recorded as a "significant" health condition. The Department had received comments pointing out that the medical community and State worker compensation systems do not support the current rule's hearing loss standard. Second, the Department will propose to delay for one year the record keeping rule's definition of "musculoskeletal disorder" (MSD) and the requirement that employers check the MSD column on the OSHA Log. The Department has announced its intention to develop a comprehensive plan to address ergonomic hazards and has scheduled a series on ergonomics. The issues to be decided as a result of these forums include the appropriate definitions of the terms "ergonomic injury" and MSD. Chao said, "Until a definition is
agreed upon, the data collected will not help us target the injuries
that need to be eliminated."
The purpose of this award is to promote public awareness and recognition of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the ASSE and pay tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of safety professionals engaged in the broad field of occupational safety and health. The award is based on the nominee’s past five years’ activities and criteria set forth at the National level of the ASSE: Greg joins a distinguished group of area safety professionals and we are proud of his contributions to this vital industrial initiative. |
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1 When the shoe's on the other foot Page 2 Page 3 PAGE 4 Archives |
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CSC/TC’s
Operations Manager, Greg Smith, has been given the ASSE (American
Society of Safety Engineers) Safety Professional of the Year (SPY)
Award.