Compliance Publications (CP) has 2000 employees. Approximately 200 of those empl

Question

Compliance Publications (CP) has 2000 employees. Approximately 200 of those employees spend their 8 workday hours typing and transcribing materials for the various publications produced at Compliance. Many of these employees work in a large typing hall (an open location where each employee has a small desk and a computer where they complete their typing). Some employees, however, work from remotely from home during the same work hours, and are responsible for providing their own workspace. Recently, the employees have been complaining about pain in their back and wrists, eye strain, and discomfort on standing after the long day of typing. Individual employees have made the following suggestions. Margaret, who works in the typing hall, asks for swivel typing chairs equiped with a high-back, lumbar (low-back) support, and foot rests. Jung, who works in the typing hall, asks for the computer keyboards to be replaced by ergonomic keyboards. Angel, who works in the typing hall, asks for computer monitor screen guards to reduce the glare coming from the existing computer monitors. Kepi, who works in the typing hall, asks for current computer monitors to be replaced with large screen anti-glare plasma monitors mounted on ergonomic bracketing for the correct angle and positioning of the display. Frank, who works in the typing hall, asks for CP to hire a trainer to come in and work individually with typists on ergonomic positioning. Lavone, who works in the typing hall, objects to any changes to his workstation and wants CP to agree that any changes it makes will not apply to his workstation. Roseanne, who is an Executive Assistant, has her own office, and spends less than 1/4 of her work day typing, asks that CP provide her with the same ergonomic equipment and training that it provides to its workers in the typing hall. Destiny, who works from home, asks that CP provide her with the same ergonomic equipment and training that it provides to its workers in the typing hall. Eileen, who works in HR, collects the suggestions and is asked to make a recommendation to CP about how to proceed.

1.Considering OSHA's current stance on ergonomics, what should she recommend?

Explanation / Answer

Eileen being in HR has utmost responsibility of providing safe and healthy work environment. Making employees stand and type for 8 hours is against OSHA's standard of ergonomics. As far as the employees who work from home their type of employment matters a lot to CP. They employees who work from home will not be entitled for same provision as who work in their office place, If they are on the permanent rolls of the company then their request can be considered. Since they are already having the flexibility of working from home, this will only be treated as additioal request from the employee.

Lavone would not be able to stop the management from providing safety standards since if the company plans to install anti glare monitors then it would do it for all in the company as it would have immediate or effects at a later stage. Chairs, anti-glare monitors should be immediately looked into as it might lead to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD's) and eye problems.

Frank's request of hiring a trainer can be considered. Though not an Osha standard, this will contribute to decreasing the MSD's. We all sit in postures that are comfortable for us but actually they might not be the exact work positions. To educate employees on sitting postures and various other neck postures, a trainer can be hired for a day or two to train the employees.

Eileen can make the above mentioned recommendations to CP.

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