BLOG: THE WORLD WON'T END WITHOUT GREASE
Today in Manufacturing
An interesting relationship exists between the purchasing department and those in need of a just-in-time part ... continue
PREVENTING WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Greg Summerhays-Workers Compensation Fund
According to OSHA, 34 percent of all lost-workday injuries and illnesses are work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). These disorders cost employers $15-20 billion annually in workers’ compensation costs.WMSDs have many names including repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorders, over use syndrome, repetitive motion injuries, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, white finger and game keeper’s thumb. The most widely-known term, and perhaps the most prevalent WMSD in the workplace, is carpal tunnel syndrome.
To prevent these injuries, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to them. Ergonomics literally means the laws or rules of human strength. The word was originally coined in the 1950s by researchers and engineers interested in the design of living and work environments. Today, the purpose of ergonomics in the workplace is to create a better match between the worker, the duties they perform, and the equipment they use. A good match increases worker productivity and reduces or eliminates WMSDs. A bad match hurts productivity and results in frequent WMSDs.
Factors that contribute to the development of WMSDs include:
• Force - strength needed to perform a task.
• Repetition - frequency or number of times a task is performed during a shift.
• Posture - positioning of the body to perform a task.
• Lack of recovery time.
• Vibration.
• Temperature - colder temperatures are more harmful.
• Non-work related issues - health, lifestyle, hobbies, sports activities, employee morale, etc.
Identifying and preventing WMSDs requires a careful review of these factors. Prevention may require modification of one or more of these factors. Good examples of modification are reducing the forces used, minimizing a task’s repetitiveness, improving employees’ posture, and reviewing non-work related issues and how these factors can be favorably modified. Modification could also mean using an ergonomically designed and padded tool or job rotation. In some cases, the answer may be automation.
How can an employer determine if there is a WMSD problem? The simplest method is to look at departments with high injury and/or illness rates. While no injury rate should ever be acceptable, rates of 10 percent and greater are considered high. The 10 percent injury rate can be used by OSHA to form the basis for a workplace safety violation and citation.
Another method is to look at the type of injuries. Are they WMSDs? High employee absenteeism or turnover can also be indicators. If there is a problem, develop a WMSD prevention plan and include:
• Problem task identification.
• Task evaluation.
• Solutions.
• Task modification.
• Equipment changes.
• Administrative changes.
• Employee training.
• Documentation of changes’ effectiveness.
• Follow up and additional modifications as needed.
Both large and small companies successfully use this prevention model. It is effective in both reducing WMSDs and maintaining, or even increasing, productivity and cost effectiveness. Correctly applied, ergonomics can prevent WMSDs and improve the bottom line.
RARE EARTH PRICES SURGE AS CHINA TIGHTENS GRIP
Quick Manufacturing News
China produces more than 95% of the world's rare earths -- 17 elements critical to making everything from iPods to electric cars and missiles -- and Beijing has been trying to bring the minerals under state control. Click to continue
LOGISTICS NUMBERS SHOW SIGNS OF ECONOMIC STRENGTH
Quick Manufacturing News
Railroad bulk carload freight in May held steady since April, increased 0.5% over May 2010 and was up 16.4% over May 2009, according to the Association of American Railroads. Intermodal rail traffic in May 2011 was 7.5% higher than May 2010 and 0.8% higher than April 2011 totals. Click to continue
PARIS AIR SHOW OPENS WITH $20 BILLION IN DEALS
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Boeing executive: 'Traffic is coming back in a very strong fashion.' Click to continue
WHITE HOUSE: FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN U.S. UP 49% IN 2010
Quick Manufacturing News
Foreign funds employed 5.7 million U.S. workers. Click to continue
MANUFACTURERS IN PHILADELPHIA, NEW JERSEY REPORT WEAKER JUNE
Quick Manufacturing News
Key index of manufacturing activity hits lowest level in 31 months. Click to continue
NEW RULES WOULD SPEED UP UNION ELECTIONS
Today in Manufacturing
Labor regulators are proposing sweeping new rules that would dramatically shorten the time frame for union elections ... continue
COULD A WIRELESS NETWORK TAKE DOWN GPS?
Today in Manufacturing
Company outlined its intentions amid mounting concern its network would cripple GPS systems used for everything from aviation to military operations ... continue
AIRLINE TO TURN USED COOKING OIL INTO BIOFUEL
Today in Manufacturing
Dutch airline KLM plans to use recycled cooking oil as biofuel to power flights to and from France in a move aimed at cutting carbon emissions ... continue
COLUMN: MANUFACTURING NEEDS TARGETED TAX CUTS
Today in Manufacturing
How can we grow manufacturing, provide family wage jobs, and help the small and midsize manufacturers that are suppliers to the large corporations? ... continue
ARE YOU IN A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY STATE?
Quick Manufacturing News
U.S. Chamber study identifies state-level economic development strategies that are working. Click to continue
WORKPLACE SAFETY OVERSIGHT MUST BE STRENGTHENED
Quick Manufacturing News
The American Society of Safety Engineers submitted draft legislation to leaders in Congress in efforts to bolster employer responsibility for occupational safety. 'While the direct responsibility for saving lives and preventing injuries and illnesses in this nation's workplaces rests with employers, we can all do a better job of helping them and encouraging them to meet that responsibility,' said ASSE president Darryl C. Hill. Click to continue
DISSENT AND POLITICAL WRANGLING LEAVES FINANCIAL OVERHAUL TOTTERING
Quick Manufacturing News
Eleven months later, Dodd-Frank is tottering under the weight of intense political wrangling, missed deadlines and, perhaps most troubling, confusion over rules and definitions that have yet to be fully explained. Click to continue
S&P DOWNGRADES NIPPON STEEL
Quick Manufacturing News
Concern over the firm's ability to pass on higher costs of raw materials Click to continue
PANEL LOOKS TO STOP EPA’S OVERREGULATION OF COAL ASH
Michael Frohlich – ShopFloor Blog (NAM)
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, chaired by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), stood up for domestic energy producers and the importance of coal as a reliable, domestically produced source of energy, which has other important uses.
This afternoon at 4:00pm the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy marked up the “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act,” which would prevent the Administration from classifying coal ash as a hazardous waste, and ensure that it is properly regulated.
For video of the markup, as well as statements and amendments, please click here.
Coal ash is the byproduct of coal combustion used for the generation of electricity. By recycling the byproduct, manufacturers are conserving resources, and producing a product that is used to make our buildings and roads studier – creating jobs and preventing high energy costs.
Yet, the EPA is seeking to reclassify coal ash as a hazardous waste. This shortsighted approach is another example of overregulation and disregards the important applications of coal ash, and will only increase the cost of energy for manufacturers.
CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY PROMPTS EXTENSION ON EPA COMMENT PERIOD
ShopFloor Blog (NAM)
In a news release recently issued by the EPA, the agency has announced a 30 day extension of the public comment period on the proposed mercury and air toxics standards rule. Stays, delays and extensions seem to be common place lately with the EPA regarding their aggressive and unpopular regulatory agenda that has drawn opposition from industry leaders. There is a growing concern about the effect these regulations will have on future expansion, investment and job creation in this fragile economy.
The EPA even openly acknowledges that pressure from members of Congress had a direct impact on their decision. Concern regarding this rule crossed party lines, with members such as Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) to Senator John Brarrasso (R-WY) weighing in, questioning the rule and asking for an extension to examine it more closely. A Reuters article discusses congressional involvement in further detail.
Coverage of the extension:
Bloomberg: “EPA Extends Comment Time on Mercury and Air Toxics Proposal”The Hill: “EPA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Mercury Rule”Reuters: US Extends Comment Time on Power Plant Toxics Rule.”
There is little doubt that the pressure has been mounting against these proposed regulations. Although they say the extension of the public comment period will not affect the timing of the final rule, it is clear that the EPA is responding to the concerns of manufacturers and lawmakers regarding the ability to comply with these regulations — and the cost of them — not just in dollars, but also the human cost of the number of pink slips these regulations would generate.
THE NLRB STRIKES AGAIN
ShopFloor Blog (NAM)
Tomorrow, the National Labor Relations Board will post a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at shortening the time allowed for union certification elections. These so-called snap elections are the latest attempt by the NLRB to effectively do for the unions what Congress wouldn’t – stack the deck in their favor.
There are many troubling aspects to this proposed rule, but perhaps the most important question to ask is – what’s broken in the system they’re trying to fix? In 2009, labor unions won 68.5 percent of representation elections. Furthermore, 95 percent of all elections are conducted within 56 days of the filing petition submitted by the union. In 2010, the average time from filing of the petition to election was 31 days. Again, what is the goal of the NLRB in proposing snap-elections?
As NLRB Member Brian Hayes stated in his dissent:
“Make no mistake, the principal purpose for this radical manipulation of our election process is to minimize, or rather, to effectively eviscerate an employer’s legitimate opportunity to express its views about collective bargaining.”
In order for employees to make an informed choice in the important decision of whether or not they feel they need a labor union to represent them in negotiations with their employer, employees need to be able to obtain information from both the labor union wishing to represent them and their employer. Snap union elections drastically limit both the time employees have to receive this information and their ability to carefully contemplate their decision.
At a time when manufacturers are focused on remaining competitive and creating jobs, federal agencies should not be focused on developing regulations that disrupt employee relationsJoe
Trauger is vice president for human resources policy, National Association of Manufacturers.
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