In an unprecedented step, California's Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has approached the trade association Material Handling Industry of America for help in developing guidelines for improving the ergonomics of manual materials handling.

This is a best practices approach, says Mario Feletto, area manager for Cal OSHA's Department of Industrial Relations. "The materials handling industry knows the solutions. But people in industry don't necessarily know the options. This is a perfect partnership for industry and government to work together," he said at a recent meeting of the industry.

Feletto is soliciting input for nearly 30 manual materials handling tasks from loading and unloading pallets to stocking shelves. The idea is to develop literature that will illustrate best materials handling practices by this time next year. The material will then be released to industry as guidelines not standards.

Already, Federal OSHA is "supportive of the approach," says Feletto. "They want us to show them what we can come up with." He also raised the possibility that what California publishes may well work its way up to the national level.