OSHA's Issuance of Draft Regulations for February 19, 1999 Help | Search:

The AFL-CIO strongly supports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's efforts to develop and issue an ergonomics standard to protect workers from musculoskeletal disorders. These disorders constitute the biggest safety and health problem in the workplace today, accounting for more than one-third of all serious workplace injuries and affecting more than 600,000 workers each year.

The AFL-CIO believes that the approach OSHA is taking with the proposed rule--to require the development of ergonomics programs for operations and jobs where there are significant risks of workers developing musculoskeletal disorders--is sound and consistent with the good industry practices that many empolyers have implemented. Experience has demonstrated that the implementation of such programs can significantly reduce injuries and illnesses and associated workers' compensation costs and improve productivity.

The draft proposal represents an important step in the right direction towards protecting workers from these disabling injuries. However, we remain deeply concerned that the draft excludes large numbers of workers from coverage, such as those in construction, maritime and agriculture. We are equally concerned that, as drafted, in many workplaces the rule is only triggered after workers are injured.

The AFL-CIO looks forward to participating fully in the rulemaking process to assist the agency with the development of a final rule that provides the highest level of protecion possible to workers exposed to ergonomic hazards.