PROTECTION OF AMERICAN WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS -- HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH (Extensions of Remarks - March 25, 1999)

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HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1999

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recommend that OSHA be enabled to continue its work on protecting American workers and employees by preventing Musculoskeletal injuries and other injuries at the workplace of America. An update of OSHA guidelines (which have been extensively and voluntarily used by employers for the last 10 years) is timely.

American employers currently spend $15-20 billion/year on disability and absenteeism due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, not considering the legal costs of law suits filed by employees. The total cost to the American society is about $60 billion/year due to medical costs and lost productivity of injured employees.

The ergonomics of work is a well-studied field by scientists in academia and NIOSH and the conclusions from that research point that most musculoskeletal disorders caused by the unsound ergonomic practices could be avoided if guidelines by OSHA were implemented at the workplace, thus protecting workers from un-necessary suffering and saving money for employers. While the regulations by OSHA may be improved and made more efficient, flexible and responsive to the needs of a particular employer, OSHA's capability to protect American workers and employers should be maintained.

I believe that the costs of efficient OSHA regulations for protecting workers from musculoskeletal injuries are minuscule in comparison with the cost of maintaining the status quo and continuity of costly musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.
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