NIOSH Testimony to OSHA - Comments on the Proposed Ergonomics Program

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is pleased to provide testimony in support of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rule on ergonomics [64 FR 65768]. NIOSH supports this ergonomics program standard addressing the significant risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in general industry. The preamble to the proposed rule provides compelling data indicating that work-related MSDs are a very large problem for the U.S. economy. The importance of work-related MSDs is also reflected in NIOSH experience in intramural and extramural research (funded internally and externally) and the health hazard evaluation program (all health hazard evaluation reports are available from the National Technical Information Service). NIOSH is conducting ergonomic research and responding to ergonomic concerns of employers and workers across a wide range of U.S. industries and occupations. Also, through the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), NIOSH has identified a strong consensus for work-related MSDs as a top research priority among our diverse stakeholders—a broad range of industry, labor, academia, and government groups.