UTU Bus News Digest - March, 1999

UTU Bus Department News Digest
Information of interest to transportation employees March, 1999

Transit Agencies to offer medical care, time off & redisgned work areas
under draft ergonomics standards issued by OSHA.

Transit Agencies would have to offer medical care, time off from work and redesigned work areas and jobs for workers who suffer repetitive stress and other workplace inures under a draft ergonomics standards issued last week by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Mechanics who must perform the same functions repeatedly, such as for routine maintenance of buses, are examples of transit workers who might be affected by the possible rule change. OSHA intends to formally propose the new standard, which would cover an estimated two million workplaces, next September. Once enacted, it would require transit properties and other workplaces where a worker suffers a work-related musculo-skeletal disorder to modify the workplace to prevent future such injuries. Contact: OSHA's Michael Fluharty at (202) 693-1999.