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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 693-4650
Background: Today, the Committee on Education and
the Workforce voted to require OSHA to delay publication of its ergonomics
standard. The committee wants to wait for the results of a second National
Academy of Sciences literature review expected sometime in 2001. OSHA predicts
that if it is delayed from promulgating a fair and effective ergonomic standard
for another two years more than one million additional workers will suffer
painful, preventable injuries and illnesses and the U.S. economy will lose more
than $100 billion. I am deeply disappointed that the Committee on Education and
the Workforce does not see the need to act promptly to protect Americans from
on-the-job biomechanical stress. More than one million Americans will suffer
work-related musculoskeletal disorders before the National Academy of Sciences
completes its second review of the scientific literature on ergonomics.
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF LABOR ALEXIS M. HERMAN
If Congress passes this bill I will urge the President to
veto it. The scientific and medical experts agree. Biomechanical stress at work
causes injury. Even more important, we know how to reduce these stresses and
cut the risk of injury.
It's time we put into action what we have learned in the
past 20 years about preventing disabling biomechanical injuries, it's time to
slash the $20 billion that employers pay each year in worker compensation
costs, and it's time to protect American workers. We cannot afford to delay any
longer.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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