Senate Approves Ban on Funding For Ergonomics Rule
July 5, 2000
On June 30, the U.S. Senate approved, 52-43, the Labor, Health &
Human Services and Education appropriations bill, including ATA-supported
language that restricts funding for the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's proposed ergonomics regulation.
The House earlier approved it's version of the bill, which contains
language that prohibits funding for OSHA to "promulgate, issue, implement,
administer, or enforce any proposed, temporary, or final standard on
ergonomic protection." Within the next few weeks, a House/Senate
Conference will meet to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the
appropriation bills.
The proposed ergonomics regulations would impose costly and
far-reaching medical review and worker-payment requirements for
work-related "musculoskeletal disorders," including in much of the
trucking industry. |