WASHINGTON, DC — December 5, 2002 — “Food retailers and wholesalers will be well represented on OSHA’s new National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE) with the appointment of SUPERVALU’s Jim Koskan to serve as one of 15 members,” said Tim Hammonds, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced the appointments on Dec. 3.

“Jim has been an invaluable resource promoting worker safety industrywide through initiatives by FMI and Food Distributors International (FDI). These programs to reduce repetitive-stress injuries, define best practices and teach worker safety have helped food retailers decrease injuries by one-third over the past decade.

“He brings to the panel great technical expertise and hands-on experience minimizing musculoskeletal injuries, including 20 years as SUPERVALU’s principal risk-control executive.

“We applaud Secretary Chao and OSHA Administrator John Henshaw for making this selection.”

Koskan joins experts from academia, labor and the medical and legal professions on a panel chartered to help OSHA accelerate the reduction of ergonomic injuries in the workplace. “Over the years,” Hammonds added, “Jim has demonstrated a strong ability to work with diverse viewpoints and reach consensus among competing points of view.”

Koskan is the only of the food retail and wholesale representative on the committee. SUPERVALU, FMI and FDI nominated him to serve.