Management, Workers Unite
Preventing workplace injuries requires management and labor to work together to identify and solve issues that may affect worker safety. It’s important to emphasize that no one should ever exceed their limits of physical exertion in lifting or bending, and any pain caused by repetitive stress should be noted to find alternatives. Training in the proper ways to lift and perform tasks are an important part of the overall ergonomic process, and labor and management should perform frequent evaluations of the ongoing process to assess whether new issues have arisen or if old processes should re-examined.
Voluntary and cooperative solutions are much preferable to local, state and federal mandates. The law requires employers to maintain healthy workplaces and safeguards retaliatory actions. OSHA can provide an on-site consultation if requested.