제 목 : Good News for OSHA on Ereonomies
일 자 : 1996년 10월
제공처 : Safety ＆ Health
For nearly two years, Congress has hindered OSHA's work
on ergonomics-related issues. But now the House has voted
to allow the government to take aim at musculosk-
eletal injuries- some of the fastest- growing occupational
-health hazards, which good ergonomics is designed to correct.
Thirty-five Republicans,mostly moJerates from northern states,
crossed party lines to vote against language that prohibited OSHA
from gathering information about musculoskeletal disorders or
writing regulations to prevent them. The provision was part of
a major sociaI-spending bill for l997. The roll call was 216-205.
Extremely strong language in previous House proposals virtually
prevented OSHA from mentioning the word ergonomics.
"The House vote was a bow to common sense," says Stephen
Gaskil1, OSHA's communications director. "Each year more than
2.5 million people develop musculosk-eletal disorders,
and workers-com-pensation costs associated with them are
$20 billion annually. We believe the members of Congress realized
that the Bonilla amendment (the originallegislation) was
a little overreaching."
More than any other labor-related subject, ergonomics has
emerged over recent years as the linchpin of the debate between
the Clinton administration and Congress. Business groups have
opposed efforts to attribute musculoskeletal disorders
to occupational causes. And until recently, the GOP-controlled
Congress has towed the business line.
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