OSHA’s Newest Ergonomic Initiative: The Ergonomic Hazard Alert Follow-Up Policy

On April 2, 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new Ergonomic Hazard Alert FollowUp Policy (the Policy) as a directive to regional and area offices. This is OSHA’s newest attempt in a 20year effort to regulate ergonomic hazards in the American workplace.

Beginning in 2002, OSHA began issuing employers Ergonomic Hazard Alert Letters (EHALs). Under its new Policy, OSHA intends to contact employers that previously received an EHAL on or after April 1, 2002, “to determine whether hazards and deficiencies identified in the letter have been addressed.” The Policy provides that OSHA will make initial contact with employers through telephone calls and/or faxes. During the initial contact, personnel will explain that OSHA is following up on the original inspection and seeking “to determine what specific measures were taken by the employer in response to the EHAL.”

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