ATA Asks Labor Secretary to Withdraw Ergonomics Rule
March 1, 2000, Alexandria, Va. -- In comments filed today with
the U.S. Department of Labor on a proposed ergonomics rule, the American
Trucking Associations (ATA) said the workplace plan violates both the U.S.
Constitution and Federal law and should be withdrawn.
Walter B. McCormick, Jr., ATA President and CEO, said: "This
overreaching proposal is based on junk science. Further, it will cost the
trucking industry $6 billion to put into place. We can't afford to pay
this massive price for something that won't work. It makes more sense to
spend precious dollars on common sense workplace safety plans based on
real world trucking industry experiences."
 McCormick cited the Department of
Labor's own statistics which show that while employment in the trucking
industry is growing, the number of employee injuries has dropped
significantly, calling into question the need for more government
regulation. The Department reported that employment in the trucking and
warehousing industry increased from 1,669,000 in 1997 to 1,739,000 in 1998
-- up 4% -- while injuries and illnesses in the industry decreased from
170,100 in 1997 to 145,700 in 1998 -- down 14%.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency
pushing the plan, describes ergonomics as the "science" of fitting jobs to
people. Its rule would mandate ergonomics management programs for
employers who have manufacturing jobs, manual handling jobs, or jobs held
by workers who might experience so-called "musculoskeletal disorders" from
their job.
ATA said that, if OSHA refuses to withdraw the proposed regulation,
then trucking operations should be excluded from the rule, as are
maritime, construction and agriculture operations. ATA also emphasized
that employers should not be held responsible for workplaces they do not
control and that current workers compensation systems, and not a new
system of compensation, should protect employees.
Contact: Mike Russell, (703)
838-7935 |
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