There are also practical benefits to developing an ergonomically friendly jobsite. In addition to keeping OSHA at bay, it could result in fewer lost-work days, lower workers comp costs, reduced insurance rates and higher overall productivity — in many cases, for a minimal investment in time and/or dollars. You may find it's just a matter of training workers to use a different technique (i.e., kneeling instead of stooping) to reduce strains or other injuries.

Need help getting started? Check out the Ergonomics and Construction section, Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America, at www.lhsfna.org. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also offers "Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers", a useful guide to the prevention of ergonomics-related injuries. The guide can be downloaded free of charge from the NIOSH web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-122/.