Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and airborne infectious diseases on OSHA’s rule-making agenda

An important indicator of how OSHA intends to continue extending its reach was unveiled in the form of its Fall Regulatory Agenda, which details where the agency intends to go with rulemaking over the next 12 months.

An issue that was controversial in the past has resurfaced – the definition of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and whether they should be noted in their own column in OSHA-required records. WMSDs are disorders of the muscles, tendons and nerves that are frequently associated with repetitive motion (which are often called Repetitive Strain Injuries) and are studied in the field of ergonomics.

OSHA is also seeking public comment on whether federal standards are needed to protect workers against airborne infectious diseases, such as H1N1.

More detail is available at http://www.oshalawblog.com