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Standards & Metrics

Ergonomic Hazard

A workplace condition that can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to repetitive motions, awkward postures, forceful exertions, or vibration exposure.

Ergonomic Hazard is a term from U.S. workplace-safety regulation — typically a category in OSHA enforcement, a citation classification, or a worker-protection concept under the OSH Act. The definition here is the practical worker-facing meaning. Understanding Ergonomic Hazard is part of reading OSHA enforcement records defensibly. Citation classifications (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious, de minimis) carry meaningfully different implications for both employers and workers, and the worker-relevant interpretation often differs from the strict legal definition.

Each company page on OSHARecord surfaces Ergonomic Hazard-relevant data for that specific employer, so the general definition here translates into concrete enforcement-history detail on the per-employer pages workers actually use.

Reviewed by OSHARecord Editorial Team

What It Means

Ergonomic hazards are physical conditions in the workplace that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including injuries to muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. Common ergonomic risk factors include repetitive motions (assembly line work, typing), sustained awkward postures (overhead reaching, bending), forceful exertions (heavy lifting, pushing, pulling), contact stress (leaning against hard edges), and vibration exposure (from power tools or equipment). MSDs account for roughly one-third of all worker injury and illness cases reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and cost employers billions of dollars annually in workers' compensation and lost productivity. Although OSHA does not have a specific ergonomics standard, a comprehensive standard was issued in 2000 but repealed by Congress in 2001, the agency addresses ergonomic hazards through the General Duty Clause, industry-specific guidelines, and National Emphasis Programs. OSHA has published voluntary ergonomic guidelines for specific industries including nursing homes, poultry processing, retail grocery, and shipyards. Employers with high rates of MSDs may face General Duty Clause citations if they fail to address recognized ergonomic hazards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Ergonomic Hazard" mean in OSHA context?

A workplace condition that can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to repetitive motions, awkward postures, forceful exertions, or vibration exposure.

Why does Ergonomic Hazard matter for workplace safety?

Ergonomic hazards are physical conditions in the workplace that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including injuries to muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. Common ergonomic risk factors include repetitive motions (assembly line work, typing), sustained awkward ...

Related Terms

General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1))

The OSH Act provision requiring employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Recordable Injury

A work-related injury or illness that meets OSHA criteria for recording on the employer's injury and illness log.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

The federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety and health standards across the United States.

DART Rate (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred)

A metric measuring the rate of injuries and illnesses severe enough to result in days away from work, restricted duties, or job transfer per 200,000 hours worked.

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About This Data

Definitions based on OSHA standards, the OSH Act of 1970, and federal enforcement guidance. Penalty amounts reflect 2026 inflation-adjusted maximums. See our methodology.