Opponents Call on OSHA to Drop Ergonomics Rule

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Washington, D.C., March 13 -- Decrying the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's ergonomics regulation as subjective, ambiguous and unmanageable, members of the National Coalition on Ergonomics today called for the agency to withdraw its rule, as hearings on the controversial regulation began just blocks away.

Standing next to reams of paper that make up the proposed regulation, opponents charged that OSHA needs to rethink its approach.

"Take a look at this and you'll understand our nightmare," said Barbara Hiden, director of federal affairs, National Soft Drink Association and member of the National Coalition on Ergonomics, as she surveyed dozens of binders full of page after page of OSHA's proposal.

"This 1,000-plus page rule and the supporting documentation is a nightmare for both employers, and we would argue, employees."

While much of the debate over OSHA's rule has centered on whether medical and scientific evidence supports it, Stu McMichael, who runs a small print shop, said the rule is out of touch with the real world.

"OSHA's ergonomics rule would force me to become a better doctor than the physicians who treat these injuries and the scientists who research this issue," said McMichael.

McMichael and Jim Wordsworth, who operates a local restaurant, said employees are their most important resource.

"Employers are willing to spend money on proven safety programs," said Wordsworth. "This proposed rule could actually result in greater harm by taking away from existing programs."

"Nowhere within the pages of the proposal does OSHA actually answer these fundamental questions surrounding the issue of ergonomics: How many repetitions are too many? How heavy a lift is too heavy? Or when does a position become awkward?" said Hiden. "That's because OSHA doesn't have those answers, so they have decided to write a regulation forcing employers to figure out what has thus far eluded the entire medical and scientific communities."

Public hearings on the proposed began March 13 in Washington; a complete schedule of hearings and witnesses is available from OSHA's Web site. American Trucking Associations is scheduled to testify in Washington April 7. ATA submitted written comments opposing the rule on March 1.

The National Coalition on Ergonomics is made up of more than 300 associations and businesses, including the Academy of General Dentistry, American Bakers Association, American Small Businesses Association, American Trucking Associations, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Center for Office Technology, Food Distributors International, Food Marketing Institute, Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Manufacturers, National Beer Wholesalers Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Soft Drink Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.