For Immediate Release
Monday, November 22, 1999
Statement by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on Proposed OSHA Ergonomics Regulation
WASHINGTON —"When the ergonomics regulation that OSHA has proposed today becomes the law of the land, millions of workers will be spared the pain, disability and ruined careers that result from back injuries and other repetitive strain injuries. AFSCME has been waiting for this moment for a decade, and we welcome and support OSHA's initiative to protect workers from the leading cause of serious workplace injuries today.
"We finally won the battle to stop Congress from blocking OSHA from moving forward with a regulation to protect workers from ergonomic injuries. Now we intend to win the war in the upcoming OSHA rulemaking to make sure the final standard provides the protection that all workers need and deserve.
"OSHA's ergonomics proposal is a good start and a critically important step in the right direction. However, we do have concerns that OSHA's proposal does not go far enough and does not cover all workers who need these types of protections. For many occupations, the rule would only take effect after workers are injured.
"Even with a high degree of underreporting, there are over 600,000 injuries related to poor ergonomics recorded in this country each year, and the national costs of these injuries has been estimated to be as high as $20 billion annually.
"AFSCME members who work in nursing homes and other health care settings have the highest rate of back injuries as the result of moving and lifting patients. Computer operators suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome and other pain in their arms, shoulders and necks. Repetitive strain injuries also occur among school bus drivers, equipment operators, laborers, maintenance and custodial staff, and among AFSCME members in many other occupations. All workers who must lift heavy loads, work in awkward positions, be subjected to heavy vibration or perform repetitive motions hour after hour are at risk.
"We know what causes these injuries. We also know how to prevent them. Ergonomics means changing the way work is done to take the strain off of workers' bodies. Equipment for handling patients, properly designed computer stations, and adequate staffing policies are just a few examples of solutions that have been proven effective in reducing these types of injuries.
"Therefore, AFSCME will actively participate in OSHA's rulemaking process to ensure that the final rule requires that employers take all necessary and feasible steps to protect workers before injuries occur."
