From the publication Ergonomics Today™

More Information on Upcoming Ergonomics Forums

June 25, 2001

By R. Michael

The Labor Department announced more details on the ergonomics forums scheduled to be held around the United States in July.

Whether you are in favor of, or opposed to ergonomics regulations, share your opinion by speaking at the forums or submitting written comments via the Internet.

The three public forums will be held on the following dates at the following locations and times:

Washington, DC area -- The forum will be held on July 16 and 17, 2001, at the George Mason University, Arlington Campus Professional Center, Room 329, 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. The starting time will be 9:00 a.m. on July 16 and 8:30 a.m. on July 17.

Chicago, Illinois -- The forum will be held on July 20, 2001, at the University of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59^th Street. It will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Stanford, California -- The forum will be held on July 24, 2001, at Stanford University, Kresge Auditorium of Stanford Law School. It will begin at 9:00 a.m.

You may submit notices of intention to speak at a forum, by mail, to: Ms. Veneta Chatmon, OSHA Office of Public Affairs, Docket No. S-777A, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N- 3647, Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-1999. These must be postmarked by June 29, 2001. You may fax your notice of intention to speak at a forum to Ms. Chatmon at (202) 693-1634.

Written comments must be postmarked by August 3, 2001. If you are submitting documentary evidence that has been previously submitted in the OSHA ergonomics rulemaking docket (Docket S-777), please reference the Exhibit Number rather than providing an additional copy.

Written comments may also be submitted on line at http://www.osha-slc.gov/ergonomics-standard/index.html.

Forum Plans: The forums will consider the three questions listed below.

Question 1: What is an ergonomics injury? The Department of Labor is interested in establishing an accepted definition that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers and their employees can understand and apply.

Question 2: How can the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers and employees determine whether an ergonomics injury was caused by work-related activities or non-work-related activities; and, if the ergonomics injury was caused by a combination of the two, what is the appropriate response?

Question 3: What are the most useful and cost-effective types of government involvement to address workplace ergonomics injuries (e.g., rulemaking, guidelines, "best practices," publications/conferences, technical assistance, consultations, partnerships or combinations of such approaches)? The agency particularly invites comment on the advantages and disadvantages of each approach or combination of approaches.