A recent batch of citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handed out to 11 companies has some industry experts pointing to apparent contradictions between the agency's statements and its actions.

After a relatively quiet two-year period, OSHA has started cracking down on ergonomic safety violations, even in facilities that have established effective ergonomic safety programs.

"I'm puzzled by what OSHA is doing," says John Eisen, director of government relations for the International Foodservice Distributors Association. "[OSHA Administrator] John Henshaw has repeatedly made public statements that companies that have strong ergonomics programs will not be subject to fines and citations." Two of the companies cited, grocery chain SuperValu and Coca-Cola, have working ergonomics programs in place, Eisen notes. "I don't know why OSHA is saying one thing and doing another. We're very concerned about the ability of the agency to reconcile its words with its deeds."

When asked about the impact of the citation on its operations, SuperValu responded to LM in a written statement noting, "Our top priority is to create and maintain a safe work environment for our employees. We constantly are seeking ways to reduce all types of injuries, including ergonomic injuries. In addition, SuperValu is represented on OSHA's National Advisory Committee, where we are an active participant. We support the introduction of voluntary guidelines as opposed to mandatory regulations."

Joel Hoiland, president and CEO of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), says that his organization is taking a proactive stand on ergonomics and OSHA's newfound focus on crackdowns. Working directly with OSHA, he said, the association plans to provide information, guidance, and access to training resources to its members and to non-member owners and operators of third-party warehouses.

Enforcement of ergonomic safety has been a hot-button topic for years. Labor groups raised the issue during the first Bush administration, but Congress thwarted efforts to allow OSHA to cite companies for violations and voted those proposals down as being cost-prohibitive. Subsequent attempts to bring those proposals up again during the Clinton era were likewise rebuffed.

Little has changed since: Congress in 2001, under the current Bush administration, voted to repeal an ergonomic safety plan developed by OSHA.