2002 Archive - California Labor Federation Ergonomics Proposal September 19, 2002

(a) Scope and Application. This section applies to all places of employment and establishes minimum requirements for controlling occupational exposure to the risk of developing repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) through the employer's Injury and Illness Prevention Program required by section 3203. Each employer shall establish and implement a program designed to minimize RMIs. The program shall include a worksite evaluation, injury investigation, control of exposures which may cause RMIs and training of employees.

(b) Identification and evaluation of workplace hazards pursuant to section 3203(a)(4) shall include evaluation of each job, process, or operation, or a representative number of such jobs, processes, or operations for exposures which may cause RMIs.

(c) Investigation of an injury pursuant to section 3203(a)(5) shall include a worksite evaluation if the injury reasonably appears to be a work-related RMI. The worksite evaluation shall include the following:

(1) An inspection of the employee's workstations or work locations.

(2) An interview of the employee and observation of the employee's work when the employee resumes work after being injured.

(3) A record of the findings of the evaluation.

(d) Any exposures that may cause RMIs shall, pursuant to section 3203(a)(6), be corrected in a timely manner or, if not capable of being corrected, have the exposures minimized to the extent feasible. The employer shall consider engineering controls, such as work station redesign, adjustable fixtures or tool redesign, and administrative controls, such as job rotation, work pacing or work breaks.

(e) Pursuant to section 3203(a)(3) and 3203(a)(7), employees shall be provided training that includes an explanation of:

(1) The manner in which the employer's Injury and Illness Prevention program addresses RMI hazards.

(2) The exposures which are associated with RMIs.

(3) The symptoms and consequences of injuries caused by repetitive motion.

(4) The importance of reporting symptoms and injuries to the employer.

(5) Methods used by the employer to minimize RMIs.

2002 Archive