Ms. Ryndak indicated that NAII frequently tells employers that they “don't have to do this alone” and that there are many free resources available either through OSHA or their insurers. She believes that safety professionals in the insurance business “have better access to employers” than does OSHA and that they set up “a less adversarial relationship” with employers.

She speculated that it is “human nature” to fight reforms when employers “think their backs are up against the wall.” However, “if you go forward with knowledge and true understanding of how to fix a potential problem, things go along smoother,” Ms. Ryndak noted.

But getting employers' attention is just one of the challenges facing loss control professionals who try to tackle ergonomics issues. Mr. Salen thinks it is crucial to reach employees.

Like their employers, workers have “to recognize lifestyle changes, the exposure they have, the fact that their bodies aren't capable of doing the types of things [that humans] did 50 years ago working on farms,” he observed. Adapting to this reality involves education and training of workers and their employers, along with “some investment in workstation design,” Mr. Salen said.

At the same time, he acknowledged that many companies already take considerable steps to adjust to the needs of their employees. Companies “more often than not” are finding state-of-the-art workstations that are ergonomically designed and reasonably priced, he said.

He also noted that employers are increasingly willing to accommodate an employee who, for example, asks for a screen to dim the glare of a computer monitor or for a pad for aching wrists.

But the “workplace is not a problem that is easily solved in the course of a policy term,” he observed. “You're looking at something that's long-term and that requires an approach from the standpoint of evolving improvement.”

To Mr. Salen, this means a multi-year commitment of money and resources by employers. In reality, a risk manager cannot get that kind of commitment in the areas of safety and health except at “the biggest and most progressive of companies,” he said.

He explained that for many companies, safety and health investments are “a year-by-year” matter. “If there's a downturn in sales, revenue or profit, [safety and health are among] the first places they look to trim,” he added.

Nevertheless, Mr. Salen said that one way for a risk manager to get around this problem to some extent is to take advantage of grants and training programs available from sources such as state and federal agencies.

Despite all the difficulties involved with addressing ergonomic issues in the workplace, Mr. Salen denies that the picture is bleak because he sees improvements every year.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there is no quick fix. Instead, Mr. Salen suggested that the key strategies are patience, persistence and keeping a spotlight on the issues.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, August 27, 2001. Copyright 2001 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.

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