ADA, OSHA renew ergonomics alliance
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Posted May 19, 2006 |
By Craig Palmer Washington—The American Dental Association and Occupational Safety and Health Administration renewed an agreement May 18 continuing "an effective means of collaborating on ergonomics matters."
The agreement originally signed in April 2004 established a voluntary alliance for information sharing on ergonomics issues  . An OSHA representative spoke at the ADA's 146th annual session in Philadelphia in October 2005 and the Association is represented on the editorial boards of OSHA's bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention and dentistry safety and health topics pages at www.osha.gov .
"The ADA is very supportive of the alliance agreement with OSHA because it provides an effective means of collaborating on ergonomics matters that both the agency and organized dentistry view as important to the health and well being of dentists and their staff," said ADA President Bob Brandjord.
Joining the ADA president in renewing the agreement, OSHA Administrator Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., said, "We are happy to renew our partnership with the American Dental Association through the alliance agreement. OSHA will invariably benefit from the expertise of the ADA as we continue to strive for maximum health and safety standards for employees in the dental profession." The two leaders penned the renewal agreement in a ceremony at OSHA's Capitol Hill offices.
Association Executive Director James B. Bramson said the renewal "continue(s) our relationship with OSHA in a manner that seeks voluntary means of addressing ergonomics issues that are of concern to both OSHA and the ADA."
The ADA and OSHA will continue working on specific issues and projects related to good ergonomic health in dentistry and will provide information for ADA members regarding the recognition and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, OSHA said in a press release. The alliance will continue looking into methods to communicate this information effectively by way of print, electronic media, electronic assistance tools and the respective organization Web sites.
Association resources on ADA.org, some of it member specific, include the A-Z Topics: Ergonomics and Issues Library: Ergonomics Regulation  pages. The 2005 Survey on Ergonomics in Dental Education is also available for purchase.
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