This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform Oregon employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general Oregon OSHA compliance requirements. Once a decision has been made to initiate an ergonomics program, a necessary step is to gather information to determine the scope and characteristics of the problem or potential problem.
Some signs are obvious while others are more subtle.
OSHA Form 200 logs or workers compensation claims show cases of MSDs such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, epicondylitis, and low back pain. Certain jobs or work conditions cause worker complaints of undue strain, localized fatigue, discomfort, or pain that does not go away after overnight rest. Workers visiting the clinic make frequent references to physical aches and pains related to certain types of work assignments. Here are some other examples of symptoms that should trigger evaluations. If you uncover signs like these in your workplace, it might be a good idea to request a confidential evaluation by an Oregon OSHA or insurer ergonomics consultant.