Copyright 1999 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
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