Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company
The Boston
Globe
November 23, 1999, Tuesday ,THIRD EDITION
SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. D6
LENGTH: 345 words
HEADLINE:
ADVOCATES: ERGONOMICS STANDARD LACKING
BYLINE: By Diane
E. Lewis, Globe Staff
BODY:
Workplace safety
advocates said they were concerned about language that could limit the
effectiveness of a new national ergonomics standard unveiled yesterday in
Washington.
Tolle Graham, an occupational health specialist at the
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health in Jamaica Plain,
said the regulations are weakened by a provision stating that implementation of
the standard will be triggered by an injury in the
workplace. 'This is not a program that will evaluate signs and
symptoms with the idea of preventing an injury from occurring," said Graham. "It
isn't preventative enough . . . At the same time, it is hopeful that we have
gotten this far."
Besides safety advocates, industry groups also voiced
their concerns about the proposed standards. Jennifer Krese, director of
employment policy at the Washington-based Association of Manufacturers, said she
was leery of a clause in the standard that promises to grandfather in companies
that already have appropriate safety measures.
"Our members have
received no assurances that this regulation will improve worker safety," said
Krese, who called the agency's push to develop the standard "disingenuous."
Under the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's new ergonomics standard, which is slated to be
implemented by the end of the year 2000, employers at 1.6 million worksites will
be required to develop or implement a basic ergonomics program.
OSHA estimates accommodations to a single work station
could cost $150 per year. The overall cost to employers is
expected to be approximately $4.2 billion, and will include the
$875 million US companies spend on injured employees who are
not fully covered by workers' compensation.
Before the standard can be
implemented, a series of hearings must be held during which time workers and
employers will testify for or against the proposal. Graham yesterday urged
Massachusetts workers who suffer from work-related repetitive stress
injuries and would like to testify to contact MassCosh at
(617)-524-6686.
LOAD-DATE: November 23, 1999