Safety in your operation do you take it seriously or are you just paying lip service to the subject? The time has arrived to take this subject very seriously. If you do not have an in-depth safety policy and program in effect for your operation at the present time, consider taking action to establish one now.
Every industry has safety rules and regulations that apply to all areas within the industry. In the past, the postal industry has basically only been required to meet the general clauses of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations.
Postal industry specific rules and regulations are on the way. On
Upon completion of this joint task force project (in about one year), standards on ergonomics within the postal industry will be established. After a period for comments, these standards will become policy for the postal industry. This will not only affect the USPS; it will affect all who process mail.
What will be the major concerns for the postal industry?
The most common musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) found in the postal operation is strains, sprains, neck and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tenesynovitis, epicondylitis, shoulder impingement, bursitis, neuritis and thoracic outlet syndrome.
Cumulative trauma disorders, also known as repetitive strain injuries, are caused by repetitive motions of the affected body part and also can have environmental and internal risk factors carpal tunnel syndrome, for example. This is caused by performing tasks of reaching, grasping, pinching and typing.
MSD symptoms can range from fatigue, pain, aching, numbness, stiffness and tingling. Some of the MSD signs are a decrease in the range of motion and grip strength, loss of function or balance, deformity, swelling, cramping, redness or loss of color and change in the skin temperature.
When do you suspect a case of MSD? When your discomfort goes away with rest, gets better when the activity is avoided or gets worst while performing the activity. ·
So what is ergonomics? It's the science of fitting the work environment to the capabilities of the worker. How can an ergonomics program help? It can decrease the risk of injury or illness, enhance productivity and improve the quality of work life.
How do you establish a program, and where can you obtain information or assistance? Your workers compensation insurance representative would be the first point of contact. The insuring company has resources, training programs as well as a financial incentive to invest in the safety of your employees.
It is important to become proactive in the area of employee safety. Secure a commitment from management, develop an education program and create a safety culture within your workforce. Safety is just as simple as designing the tasks, work spaces, controls, displays, tools and equipment to eliminate potential injuries before they happen.
You are also required to meet the requirements of assistive technology Defined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (1998), as devices, services and systems used to enhance, maintain or improve the function or performance of people with physical or sensory disabilities. These items allow people with disabilities to work, live and play in their community setting.
When researching assistive technology, look at each individual on a case-by-case basis. Remember, not everyone will need assistive technology to meet their needs even though they have the same medical condition. Eighty percent of job accommodations cost less than $500.
In the end, your investment in safety is returned to you in many different ways. Some cannot have a dollar value placed upon it such as employee attitude. Others like the reduction in loss time are easy to calculate in terms of a dollar value.
Your employees know if you are truly investing in your safety program or just paying lip service to it. Those who invest see results, those that do not usually end up paying for it.
John Golding, superintendent Postal and Distribution Services at
www.OSHA-SCL.gov.SLTC/smallbusiness/chklist.html
www.nsc.org/train
keats.admin.virginia.edu/ergo/home.html
www.section508.gov/
www.nvcc.edu/home/jgolding/
