Copyright 2000 The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta
Journal and Constitution
November 14, 2000, Tuesday, Home Edition
SECTION: Business; Pg. 1C
LENGTH: 545 words
HEADLINE:
Businesses oppose OSHA rule;
Unions and workers groups hail 1,600-page
ergonomics regulation as a milestone.
BYLINE: Tammy Joyner, Staff
SOURCE: CONSTITUTION
BODY:
Employers and business groups blasted the federal government Monday for
pushing through a workplace safety rule they say is confusing and costly and
doesn't give employers flexibility to deal with work-related injuries.
Unions and workers groups meanwhile hailed the controversial 1,600-page
ergonomic regulation, published today in the Federal Register,
as a milestone for workers.
Officials at the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration said the rule will prevent 460,000 workers from getting
hurt on the job annually.
The rule covers 100 million people, including
nurse's aides, warehouse workers, computer operators, assembly line workers and
others who suffer from back injuries and repetitive motion disorders and
musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The rule takes effect
in January with a four- year rollout scheduled to begin in October.
"This is the first time OSHA has had a rule on ergonomics," said Charles
Jeffress, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "Most OSHA rules, and this is
no exception, are challenged in court. I expect this will be challenged as
well."
Among the biggest opponents: Sandy Springs-based United Parcel
Service. The package delivery giant has spent years and lots of money making
sure its facilities and vehicles are ergonomically sound, company officials
said. The company also has a 3-year-old health and safety program that has
helped cut workplace injuries by more than 20 percent a year, a spokesman said.
"The concern we have is that whatever is implemented be flexible
enough," said UPS spokesman Tad Segal. "We haven't had a chance to evaluate the
final rule. (But) from the proposal we've seen in the past, it looks more like a
one-size-fits-all proposal, and we just want to make sure there's enough
flexibility."
Atlanta attorney Larry Stine called the rule "a nightmare"
for employers. He wrote a 20-page comment disputing the proposed regulation in
February. He said the rules "are not scientific. Companies want to comply, but
they're going to have an extremely difficult time figuring out how to comply."
Kim Bosgraaf, a spokeswoman with the National Federation of Independent
Business, the largest small-business advocacy group with 600,000 members
nationwide, called the rule "a rush to regulate."
Alpharetta resident
Melinda Mock is on the front lines of the battle every day.
As a
registered nurse who is certified in orthopedics and self-employed as a health
care costs consultant, she sees scores of workers' compensation claims that deal
with repetitive motion injuries.
"I see what's going on out there. I
actually see what kind of repetitive motion syndromes are alleged. Carpal tunnel
is a major repetitive motion injury. And whether or not the work site activity
contributes to that is questionable," Mock said.
"The government is
trying to come down and mandate more and more on business, small businesses in
particular," Mock said. "Most small businesses are already taking into
consideration that there's possible activity that contributes to repetitive
motion (disorders). There's a lot of things we do (outside of work) that can
contribute to that."
OSHA should wait until all the data are in before
implementing its standard, Mock said.
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