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Copyright 1999 Federal News Service, Inc.  
Federal News Service

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APRIL 21, 1999, WEDNESDAY

SECTION: IN THE NEWS

LENGTH: 315 words

HEADLINE: PREPARED STATEMENT OF
U.S. REP. HENRY BONILLA
(TX-23)
BEFORE THE HOUSE EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

BODY:

Mr. Chairman, I am speaking today in support of The Workplace Preservation Act. This bill forces OSHA live up to its promises of protecting workers. Despite its claims to the contrary, OSHA's recently proposed ergonomics regulation is not aimed at protecting workers, it's aimed at protecting bureaucrats.
Most people would agree that it is impossible to treat an ailment when you do not know what the ailment is. But that is exactly what OSHA is doing. Scientific and medical experts do not know what causes repetitive stress injuries, much less how to treat them. That is why the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has agreed to study the issue of repetitive stress injuries and any possible link they may have to the workplace.
The NAS has stated that a full understanding of musculoskeletal disorders "would require a much more detailed treatment of person-task combinations" than was covered in previous studies. The only consensus reached among the medical and scientific experts studying ergonomics is the need for further research.
Once the NAS panel of experts concludes its studies - then, and only then - will the federal government be potentially able to fully examine this issue. How can the federal government effectively regulate a situation that the experts do not understand? Apparently, OSHA thinks it knows better than the medical and scientific experts.
Despite the fact that the physicians and scientists do not fully understand the issue of ergonomics, despite the fact that the courts have ruled that OSHA is using junk science - OSHA is moving full steam ahead toward issuing one of the most sweeping labor laws in history. Instead of letting the scientists examine the facts, OSHA is dictating its own agenda. American workers should not pay the price for OSHA's mistakes. Before it rushes to regulate, OSHA should wait and listen to the experts.
END


LOAD-DATE: April 22, 1999




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