The American Furniture Manufacturers Association and the North Carolina Department of Labor have announced a new alliance designed to produce a voluntary guideline that will help furniture manufacturers reduce ergonomic hazards and injuries in their industry.

"OSHA is pleased to support the alliance and provide promotion and publication of the voluntary guideline," said OSHA chief John Henshaw.

The alliance is unique because it is the first to bring federal and state government together with industry to develop voluntary ergonomic guidelines for a specific industry. It is also the first example of a state stepping forward with an industry group to develop a voluntary ergonomic guideline based on OSHA's four-pronged approach to reduce ergonomic injuries.

This example serves as an outstanding model for other states interested in reducing ergonomic-related injuries, said OSHA's boss.