U.S. Chamber Applauds Vote to Block OSHA Ergonomics Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote that blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from issuing a final rule on so-called "ergonomics" hazards.

"OSHA must abandon its costly, vague and unscientific ergonomics proposal," said Randel Johnson, U.S. Chamber vice president for labor and employee benefits.

In a vote late last night, the House voted 220 – 203 to defeat an amendment proposed by Rep. James Traficant, Jr. (D-OH) that would have stripped a Chamber-supported rider out of the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. The rider, the Northup provision, remains intact and bars OSHA from taking action to complete ergonomics regulations.

In a letter to House members, the Chamber said that OSHA's over 300-page proposal, issued November 23, 1999 is so broad and vague that tens of millions of jobs will be covered and even the best-intentioned employer will be unable to fathom its responsibilities under the rule—leaving OSHA inspectors with virtually unlimited discretion to impose penalties and costly abatement methods and that the proposal "exemplifies irresponsible government at its worst."

"It is time for Congress to step in and tell OSHA to slow down and put science before politics," said Johnson, noting that the Chamber vowed to continue its push to get the prohibitive measure through legislative process and will challenge OSHA in court if it issues a final rule.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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