Copyright 1999 Boston Herald Inc.
The Boston Herald
February 23, 1999 Tuesday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: FINANCE; Pg. 033
LENGTH: 409 words
HEADLINE:
OSHA stresses prevention; Plan finds few backers
BYLINE: By JENNIFER HELDT POWELL
BODY:
The federal government's plan to adopt rules
to prevent repetitive-motion injuries is taking a hit - from those who support
as well as oppose such regulations.
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration's proposal, announced Friday, is too broad and
too vague, business advocates say.
But employee groups say it doesn't do
enough.
"The good news is that there is finally some real momentum for
protection against repetitive stress injuries," said Nancy
Lessin, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and
Health.
"The bad news is it's not as much protection as we think the
standard needs to be."
OSHA is seeking standards that
would be a blueprint on how to avoid injuries that develop when a worker does
the same task too many times, such as lifting objects.
Its draft plan
will be reviewed this spring to determine potential impact on small businesses.
If approved, the standards could force some employers, mainly in the
industrial sector, to alter work stations, redesign facilities or change
equipment.
One problem with the plan is it doesn't automatically include
computer users, employee advocates said.
"So many people are not
reporting their injuries now," said Nanda Barker-Hook, spokesman for the
Coalition on New Office Technology.
Employees would be less likely to
report problems if they knew it would mean more regulation of their companies,
she said.
"The ergonomic standard should protect all workers,"
Barker-Hook said.
About 1,000 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome - a
painful constriction of nerves in the wrist - caused work time to be lost in
Massachusetts last year, according to state figures.
"That's just the
tip of the iceberg," said Laura Punnett, professor of ergonomics and
epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
OSHA estimates that more than 647,000 Americans suffer
serious injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders resulting from
their jobs, accounting for more than 34 percent of injuries that result in lost
work days.
New standards would reduce workers compensation claims and
reduce lost time, advocates say. But business leaders said there isn't enough
evidence that's true.
"We are very concerned that the regulations are
not adequately supported by scientific and medical evidence," said Peter Eide of
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The cost of tougher rules would outweigh
the benefits for small businesses, he said.
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February 23, 1999 
