the HCS to incorporate the TLVs and other occupational exposure limits, such as
AIHA’s Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels (WEELs).
AIHA also requests that OSHA work with stakeholders to address the issue of updating PELs. In its conclusion, the AIHA document highlights the parts of OSHA’s proposal
that AIHA supports, including the proposed implementation schedule.
To read AIHA’s comments, visit www.aiha.org/news-pubs/govtaffairs/Pages/
PublicPolicyComments.aspx.
AIHA® Releases Position Statement on Restoring MSD Column to OSHA 300 Log
In early March, AIHA released a position statement supporting restoration of the mus-culoskeletal disorder (MSD) column on the OSHA 300 log and including it on future
OSHA 300 logs. The OSHA 300 log is a summary of injuries and illnesses sustained in
a workplace throughout a year. Documentation of these injuries and sicknesses helps
keep employees and OSHA informed of various workplace hazards.
Although the OSHA 300 log has not incorporated a column for recording muscu-loskeletal injuries since 2001, many organizations still track MSDs because they are very
costly, as well as physically and emotionally exhausting for employees who suffer them.
The AIHA position statement acknowledges that insurance companies frequently
classify sprains and strains, overexertion and cumulative trauma in their Loss Con-trol/Risk Management reports. However, relying solely on insurance company reports
for tracking MSDs can create inaccuracies because this data lacks consistency. States
differ on how workers’ compensation bureaus define and compensate for MSDs, and
there are great disparities in how insurance companies compile, analyze and supply
this data to the companies they insure.
[Continued: 26]
