Attached are Dr. Eltz’s Writing Submission Help Guide and Dr. Eltz’s 5 Minute APA Style Paper on how he wants the paper written due to this being 30% of our grade. I have also attached what I wrote (File Called: Unit VII Essay – Patrick Rodriguez) and Unit VII Study guide just in case.

I kept with the same scenario stated below, but I think I would like to get a little more creative.

He did say to use “Use an example of an ergonomic hazard in your discussion; this may be your own example or based on the provided scenario.” The below paragraphs is my discussion example and maybe this will help you choose a scenario.

Discussion:

In today’s fast-paced work environment, it’s crucial to prioritize the well-being of employees. Poor ergonomics is one of the most significant contributors to workplace stress and physical disorders. As such, many companies have started investing in resources dedicated to promoting physical and mental health among their employees. However, despite these measures, regulatory bodies still need to step in and ensure that workplaces are safe and conducive to employee health.

One such regulatory body is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), responsible for enforcing safe working conditions in the United States. However, OSHA’s power has been limited in recent years, and there are concerns that it may not be doing enough to protect workers. While OSHA has published non-legally enforceable ergonomic guidelines, some experts argue that this sends the wrong message and weakens the organization’s authority.

To address this issue, many are calling for OSHA to make its standards legally enforceable. Doing so would not only give OSHA greater authority to ensure that workplaces are safe, but it would also send a clear message to employers that they must take the health and safety of their employees seriously. While adjusting the severity of the guidelines may be necessary, the benefits of making OSHA’s standards legally enforceable far outweigh the potential downsides.

In conclusion, the impact of workplace ergonomic issues on employee well-being cannot be understated. It’s the responsibility of regulatory bodies such as OSHA to ensure that employers do everything they can to promote a safe and healthy work environment. By making its standards legally enforceable, OSHA would be taking a significant step towards fulfilling this mission and protecting the health of working professionals across the country.

References

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Apr. 2021, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/default.html.

Assignment Content

Given your background as an OSH professional, you have been asked by the local safety council to write an essay for their newsletter covering hazard analysis and risk reduction techniques, as well as the importance of management commitment and building a sound safety culture. In your essay include the following:

The appropriate uses of a preliminary hazard analysis.

1. The process to perform a risk assessment of an ergonomic hazard at a workplace. Use an example of an ergonomic hazard in your discussion; this may be your own example or based on the provided scenario.

Determine which regulations/standards/guidelines apply to ergonomic hazards at a workplace.

Recommend abatement strategies to reduce the risks associated with the identified ergonomic hazard.

• Discuss how management can promote safety by example
• Explain the process to create a participative safety culture.
• You may come up with your own scenario to use for this assignment, or you may use the scenario below.
  Scenario: One ergonomic hazard you could consider if you have not come up with one on your own is one with which most people are somewhat familiar: airline baggage handling. Moving heavy baggage of all different shapes and sizes around all day can take a real toll on their rotator cuffs often resulting in the need for surgery. Removing them from the conveyor, placing them on carts, then onto the loading conveyor, and into the cargo hold of the plane requires all sorts of awkward shoulder motions while under load. This is a significant hazard that has been well-documented in the industry.