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CNN Live Saturday

How to Make the Workplace Ergonomically Safe

Aired July 14, 2001 - 12:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The Labor Department is working on new rules for how companies report workplace injuries. It'll be the focus of a hearing next week. The department plans to suspend a rule that requires separate reports on workplace injuries that affect the nerve, tendon or spinal disk. Those musculoskeletal injuries accounted for more than one-third of the 1.7 million workplace injures that are reported back in 1999. That's according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more now on workplace injuries and how the rules may affect you, we're joined live from Chicago by Tim Fisher. He's director for practices and standards at the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Good morning, Mr. Fisher or good afternoon to you. How are you?

TIM FISHER, SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS: It's still morning here. Good morning to you also.

KELLEY: It's nice have you join us. Now what does your organization do?

FISHER: Well, the ASSE was basically founded in 1911. This is our 90th anniversary. We have approximately 33,000 members. And what our members do is perform professional occupational safety health and environmental management functions and responsibilities and corporations and organizations consulting firms.

KELLEY: Tell us what the standards are now, Tim, and what's being done and how you think it needs to be changed to protect workers?

FISHER: Well, as far as ergonomics goes, and you were talking on the hearings that are going to be held this week or next week actually. We're going to be speaking on the 17th. Eddie Greer, our president, will be speaking.

And there's three questions that they're looking at. And the first one is what is an ergonomic disorder? The second is going to be how do you decide if it -- whether or not it is a workplace injury. And third would be what is basically the most cost effective and efficient way for government to do these type of functions in regard to ergonomics?

KELLEY: Let's talk about one of those questions that you started out with. What is an ergonomic injury? And how common are they these days?

FISHER: Well, they're very common. Even if you take back injuries out of the equation, which is a big one for us, it's a significant problem in the United States. And we talk about ergonomics. We're talking basically -- we could almost a strain or sprain, continuous bending, continuous movement. It's a serious problem for companies. And we would challenge any company that an ergonomic program positively impacts a company's bottom line. And we think it's time to take action.

KELLEY: Carpal tunnel is probably the one of the best known ones at this point. Tell us how people get an ergonomic injury and a little bit more about carpal tunnel?

FISHER: Well, ergonomic injuries really kind of run some of the gamut. It could be anywhere from somebody who's bending for eight hours a day lifting packages. Carpal tunnel syndrome, a lot times, is related to how your hands are held for typing for extensive periods of time, uncomfortable positions. And basically what happens is you put pressure on certain nerves and certain joints; causes pain, inflammation of certain part of the hands. It's a painful injury.

KELLEY: What do you think need to be done? What's not being done right now that you would like to see done that you could push for?

FISHER: I think a lot of it has to do with education training, using the correct people on staff, engineering and good preventative safety principles will do a lot. As far as engineering of work stations, it's really not that difficult if you get somebody competent on staff to do that type thing. It could be anywhere from adjusting a chair, to lowering a working surface, trying to make your specific work environment work for the people that are in your office.

KELLEY: Some people are concerned that maybe there might be a lot of new added extra regulations. What about that? Are there new rules that need to be done? Can it be voluntary or does it have to be regulated?

FISHER: Well what we would say is voluntary if you're talking compliance of the law only one facet of a good safety and health program. It makes total sense to do something right now. It really does. We would suggest not waiting for the government to come out with regulations. It really makes good financial and business sense to do something right now.

KELLEY: In addition to this, I thought I saw too that Secretary Chao was going to have three hearings and included along with ergonomics and other workplace injuries would be included stress. Is that right? And how would you deal with that? I haven't seen too much on the stress issue.

FISHER: There's been a little bit. There is going to be three forums as they are calling them. One is in Washington, D.C. and another in Chicago. And I believe the last one is on the West coast. Stress we would say would come under part of it, but I haven't seen too much on that one yet.

KELLEY: OK, Tim Fisher who's director of practices and standards with the American Society of Safety Engineers. Glad to have you come talk to us. Thanks.

FISHER: Thank you.

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