Bio Kinetics' BackTalk Enables Organizations to Comply with OSHA'S Ergonomic Standards.

Business/Technology Editors and Health/Medical Writers

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000

-- Grandfather Clause Allows Employers with Proactive Ergonomics

Programs to Comply with New Standards --

Bio Kinetics, a leader in technology-supported injury prevention solutions for the workplace, today announced that its BackTalk(TM) motion monitoring system could help organizations comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) recently proposed ergonomic standards.

The BackTalk System is the only known safety program with built-in documentation capabilities, which supports compliance with the new ergonomic standards. According to OSHA officials, the BackTalk System actually exceeds their documentation requirements. BackTalk's exclusive ability to train workers, document progress, and prevent low back injuries is due, in part, to the use of advanced sensor technology from Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI).

With on-the-job injuries and associated costs skyrocketing, OSHA has taken a strong stance in favor of improving overall workplace safety. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in June of 1997, &uot;Back injuries account for nearly 20 percent of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace and cost the nation an estimated 20 to 50 billion dollars per year.&uot;

Since OSHA's November announcement, many U.S. companies have tried to determine the impact the ergonomic regulations will have on their operations. Employers are concerned that the costs of compliance may impact more than just the bottom line. When enacted, OSHA's standard will affect over 27 million people and require most companies to establish ergonomic programs for employees involved in a wide variety of general industry jobs.

A grandfather clause is provided in the new regulations for those employers who share OSHA's vision of the benefits of a &uot;proactive ergonomics program.&uot; Employers implementing their own programs can be found in compliance under the grandfather exclusion if they can essentially demonstrate they have: 1) established a safe and effective program, 2) shown employee involvement in the process, and 3) documented the program's effectiveness over time. To encourage employers to establish their programs now, the grandfather clause is limited to programs that are in place, mature, and fully functioning before the effective date of the standard.

Current approaches may not be effective or acceptable to OSHA. According to the June 1998 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), &uot;Overall, lumbar supports (back belts) or education did not lead to a reduction in low back pain incidents or sick leave.&uot; OSHA evidently concurs with JAMA's findings because, as the standard states, &uot;back belts/braces are not considered personal protective equipment (PPE) for purposes of this standard.&uot;

Two years of research and development have resulted in Bio Kinetics' BackTalk System, which is built around a unique patent pending, matchbox-sized training and safety device. The BackTalk System's proven effectiveness in reducing on-the-job back injuries and associated claims is centered in its real-time ability to train users to recognize incorrect lifting techniques and avoid them.

Under OSHA's standards, BackTalk would be considered a preferred work practice control because it trains workers to work in positions that reduce risk factors. BackTalk allows employers to set degree-specific ranges of motion based on an employee's physical ability and job description. When motion parameters are exceeded, employees receive either a tone or vibration notice. BackTalk records movement that exceeds the specified parameters, as well as movement within those parameters. All recorded information can be downloaded to a PC for further review and analysis.

BackTalk's ability to protect employees is due to its key component, the ADXL202, a low voltage dual-range accelerometer or motion sensor, developed by the Micromachined Products Division of Analog Devices, Inc.

&uot;Analog Devices' advanced sensing technology is just the right solution for this type of application,&uot; said Jim Doscher, product line manager, Micromachined Products Division, Analog Devices. &uot;The sensor detects the workers movement (or motion) and communicates it to the rest of the system to help prevent injuries from happening. The BackTalk device is a product that could greatly reduce the number of work related back injuries due to use of this sophisticated technology.&uot;

According to Ted Brann, CEO of Bio Kinetics Corporation, &uot;We find that the majority of the time people bend and lift incorrectly. BackTalk protects employees by reinforcing correct lifting techniques. As a proven safety source, Bio Kinetics Corporation can assist employers in their transition to operating under OSHA's new ergonomic standards, while saving them money in the process.&uot;

After a three-month study of the BackTalk Training and Safety System at the University of Texas-Pan American, Ken Sator, Director of Environmental Health and Safety said, &uot;I was very impressed with the results of the study. The BackTalk System works as advertised. It can keep your employees at work and therefore reduce associated costs.&uot;

The University of Texas program demonstrated that 70 percent of the participants averaged a 35 percent improvement in their lifting techniques. Of the 70 percent in question, 26 percent improved by 45 percent or more during the evaluation period. BackTalk was found to be most cost effective in manual handling jobs. In the University environment this included library, student health services, mail services, physical plant, and shipping and receiving.

Alan Rheaume, Athletic Director at South San ISD in San Antonio, Texas said, &uot;BackTalk not only protects our maintenance workers from back injuries, it has made them more safety-conscious about all aspects of their job. Our overall injury rate has gone down and I have not had an OTJ (on-the-job) back injury since we started using BackTalk in October of 1998.&uot;

Olga Rivera, Risk Manager for Weslaco ISD in south Texas said, &uot;Since (BackTalk's) implementation in our operations departments over a year ago, we have yet to experience a single back injury. Due to BackTalk's accountability features, our employees have become more safety-conscious. Because of BackTalk's impressive performance we now use over 300 devices in our district.&uot;

Ms. Rivera stated that after meeting with their Worker's Compensation carrier Weslaco ISD officials concluded, &uot;Worker's compensation expenses are down more than $86,000 (55 percent reduction) compared to last year.&uot; &uot;This calculates to 28 cents lost cost per $100 payroll down from 78 cents lost cost per $100 payroll last year. I attributed this improvement in operations entirely to the implementation of the BackTalk System in our Safety Program,&uot; Rivera added.

About Analog Devices ADXL202

Based upon iMEMS(TM) (integrated Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, the ADXL202 measures gravity (tilt), vibration, shock and motion. The development of this low-power, low-cost general-purpose sensor has been used in a number of applications ranging from auto airbags to computer peripherals, personal navigation systems, car alarms, remote control and earthquake detection. Additional information on Analog Devices' accelerometers is available at www.analog.com/iMEMS.

About Bio Kinetics

Bio Kinetics (www.backtalksystem.com) was formed in 1996 with the specific intent to develop a comprehensive training and safety system to reduce the risks of on-the-job back injuries. With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, and engineering facilities in Sandy, Utah, Bio Kinetics began delivering state-of-the-art production BackTalk Systems in August of 1998. The privately held company expects to exceed $25 million in annual sales in 2000.

For more information about OSHA's proposed new ergonomic standards, visit www.osha.gov.

BackTalk is a trademark of Bio Kinetics Corporation. iMems is a registered trademark of Analog Devices Inc.