OSHA and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Alliance
Close-Out Report
as of March 10, 2005

On March 10, 2003, OSHA and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) formed an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge, especially in the area of ergonomics. In addition, OSHA and AAOS agreed to promote safe and healthful working conditions for industries and workers by educating and serving as a resource to AAOS members and others, including OSHA personnel to help them protect workers' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic hazards.

Because AAOS has been focusing its resources on other projects and priorities, OSHA and AAOS agreed to conclude the Alliance retroactively as of March 10, 2005. However, OSHA and AAOS will continue to work together through other avenues to develop and share information on ergonomics. The following successes resulted from the organizations' working together to meet the Alliance's goals:

• AAOS representatives serve on the editorial board for OSHA's Motor Vehicle Safety and Motor Vehicle Safety in Construction Safety and Health Topics pages.
   
• AAOS exhibited at the 2004 OSHA Compliance Assistance Training Sessions, which was June 14-18, 2004, in Falls Church, Virginia and the Second Annual OSHA Compliance Assistance Conference, which was June 9-13, 2003, in Vienna Virginia.
   
• Brett Besser, ergonomist, OSHA's Salt Lake Technical Center, attended AAOS' annual continuing medical education course on Occupational Orthopaedics and Workers Compensation, November 5-7, 2004, in Costa Mesa, California.
   
• AAOS hosted a meeting of Alliance Program participants to discuss recent developments in ergonomics on May 14, 2004 in Washington, DC.
   
• Kim Lazor, Chief of Staff, OSHA, gave an update on the Agency's four-pronged approach to ergonomics at the 71st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons on March 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California.
   
• Dr. Peter Amadio, a member of AAOS, gave a presentation entitled, "The Evidence for Repetitive Microtrauma as a Factor in the Etiology of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Study of the Subsynovial Connective Tissue, "on January 27, 2004 at the National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics" Research Symposium in Washington, DC.
   
• AAOS hosted a half-day seminar, Workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders, for OSHA personnel and Alliance Program participants on May 30, 2003 in Washington, DC.

Report prepared by: Elizabeth J. Sherfy, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, December 2, 2005