GM Agrees to Repetitive-Motion Injury Program

General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers union will cooperate in the nation’s most extensive program to combat repetitive-motion injuries, Labor Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole said Tuesday.

One hundred thirty-eight plants and an estimated 302,000 workers will take part in an effort similar to those that were undertaken by Chrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co. last year and earlier this year, the Labor Department said.

The GM pact is part of a settlement of government charges that the nation’s largest auto maker violated safety and health rules at plants in Trenton, N.J., and Oklahoma City. GM will pay $360,000 in fines for the alleged violations.

A spokeswoman said GM would have no immediate comment.

Repetitive-motion traumas, also referred to as cumulative trauma disorders, are disorders of the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems caused by repetitive motions or exertion over extended periods.

Painful and sometimes crippling, they range from back injuries to a nerve disorder of the hand and wrist to various tendon ailments. They comprise about 48% of the work-place injuries for which the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration keeps records.

Preventive measures include redesigning work stations to better accommodate the body by, for example, adjusting workbench heights. Also, devices can be used to prevent excessive lifting or similar exertions. Tools and training can be redesigned.

The program will include:

* Annual meetings for six years to discuss progress being made in combating the disorders.

* Analysis of jobs at each plant with potential hazards and devise ways to lessen the risk, including workplace redesign where feasible.