[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55884-55885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22285]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. GE2002-1]


Request for Comments on Ergonomics for the Prevention of 
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Guidelines for Nursing Homes

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); 
Department of Labor.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor is inviting comments on its draft 
Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders: Guidelines 
for Nursing Homes (draft guidelines). The draft guidelines are 
available on OSHA's Web site and through its publications office. 
Interested persons may submit written comments on the draft guidelines. 
The Department will also hold a stakeholder meeting where the public 
will be invited to express its views on the draft guidelines.

DATES: Written Comments: Comments must be submitted by the following 
dates: Hard Copy. Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or sent) 
by September 30, 2002.
    Facsimile and electronic transmission: Your comments must be sent 
by September 30, 2002.
    (Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for additional 
information on submitting comments.)
    Stakeholder meeting. A one-day stakeholder meeting will be held in 
the Washington, DC metropolitan area to discuss the draft guidelines. 
The exact location and date of the stakeholder meeting will be 
announced following the close of the comment period. OSHA requests that 
interested parties submit their intention to participate in the 
stakeholder meeting through express delivery, hand delivery, messenger 
service, fax or electronic means by September 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

I. Submission of Comments and Intention To Participate in Stakeholder 
Meeting

    Regular mail, express delivery, hand-delivery, and messenger 
service: You must submit three copies of your comments and attachments 
to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. GE2002-1, Room N-2625, Department 
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-2350. OSHA Docket Office and Department of Labor hours of 
operation are 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., EST. You must submit one copy of 
your intent to participate in the meeting by express deliver, hand 
deliver, or messenger service to the above address.
    Facsimile: If your comments, including any attachments, are 10 
pages or fewer, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 
693-1648. You must include the docket number of this document, Docket 
No. GE2002-1, in your comments. Intention to participate in the 
stakeholder meeting may also be faxed.
    Electronic: You may submit comments (but not attachments) and your 
intention to participate in the stakeholder meeting through the 
Internet at http://ecomments.osha.gov/. (Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION below for additional information on submitting comments.)

II. Obtaining Copies of the Draft Guidelines

    The draft guidelines for the nursing home industry are available 
for downloading from OSHA's Web site at www.osha.gov. A printed copy of 
the draft guidelines is available from the OSHA Publications Office, 
Room N-3101, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, or by telephone at (800) 321-OSHA (6742). You may 
fax your request for a copy of the draft guidelines to (202) 693-2498.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven F. Witt, OSHA Directorate of 
Standards and Guidance, Room N-3718, Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-
1950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Submission of Comments on This Notice and Internet Access to 
Comments

    You may submit comments in response to this document by (1) hard 
copy, (2) fax transmission (facsimile), or

[[Page 55885]]

(3) electronically through the OSHA webpage. Please note that you 
cannot attach materials such as studies or journal articles to 
electronic comments. If you have additional materials, you must submit 
three copies of them to the OSHA Docket Office at the address above. 
The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments 
by name, date, subject and docket number so we can attach them to your 
comments. Because of security-related problems there may be a 
significant delay in the receipt of comments and intentions to 
participate in stakeholder meetings by regular mail. Please contact the 
OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 for information about security 
procedures concerning the delivery of materials by express delivery, 
hand delivery and messenger service.
    All comments and submissions will be available for inspection and 
copying at the OSHA Docket Office at the above address. Comments and 
submissions will be posted on OSHA's Web site at www.osha.gov. OSHA 
cautions you about submitting personal information such as social 
security numbers and birth dates. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at 
(202) 693-2350 for information about materials not available through 
the OSHA webpage and for assistance in using the webpage to locate 
docket submissions.

II. Background

    On April 5, 2002, the Department of Labor announced a four-pronged 
comprehensive approach for addressing muskuloskeletal disorders (MSDs). 
One of those prongs called for OSHA to develop industry or task-
specific guidelines. OSHA's first industry-specific guidelines will 
address MSD hazards in the nursing home industry.
    The draft guidelines contain an introduction and three main 
sections. The introduction provides an overview of the nature and scope 
of the problem of MSDs in nursing homes. It also explains the role of 
ergonomics in reducing the incidence of these injuries. The three main 
sections set out the major components of an effective ergonomics 
process:
     Management Practices--Includes a discussion of management 
commitment and employee participation, ergonomics training, 
occupational health management, and methods for evaluating a nursing 
home's ergonomics program.
     Worksite Analysis--Describes methods of identifying and 
evaluating ergonomic stressors.
     Control Methods--Presents 49 methods that can be used to 
control exposure to ergonomic stressors in nursing homes. The control 
methods are presented with drawings showing proper use, and with 
recommendations for when to use a specific control method.
    OSHA encourages interested parties to comment on all aspects of the 
draft guidelines.

III. Stakeholder Meeting

    Following the close of the comment period, OSHA will be holding a 
stakeholder meeting in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. In a 
future Federal Register notice, the Department will announce the date 
and precise location of the stakeholder meeting.
    This notice was prepared under the direction of John L. Henshaw, 
Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health. It is issued 
under sections 4 and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 
1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 657).

    Issued at Washington, DC, this 27th day of August, 2002.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 02-22285 Filed 8-29-02; 8:45 am]
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