U.S. Chamber Cautions Against Rush to Regulate on Ergonomics

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce expressed qualified support for today's call by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao for further evidence-gathering on ergonomic injuries, for education outreach, and for new industry-by-industry guidelines. The Labor Department proposal also included a stepped-up enforcement program, which may prove problematic.

"With researchers on all sides scratching their heads about the causes of these types of injuries, we must take the time to craft rules without sacrificing science," said Chamber Vice President for Labor Policy Randel Johnson. "It remains to be seen how new and increased enforcement under these guidelines will play out, but overall the Department of Labor has proposed a balanced approach."

The U.S. Congress last year overturned a Clinton-era ergonomics proposal, which had been strongly opposed by the U.S. Chamber as "ill-conceived, unscientific, and unworkable." Secretary Chao has been considering how to proceed with a comprehensive approach to ergonomics since then and convened three forums this past summer to study the issue.

The science on the causes — and treatment — for ergonomic or musculoskeletal disorders is uncertain, according to a January 2001 study by the National Academy of Sciences and testimony presented during the Department of Labor's summer forums. Furthermore, research indicates the rates of ergo injuries have been falling.

"The Bush administration has rightfully put science ahead of politics in laying out its proposal on ergonomics," said Johnson. "The business community will be fully engaged in every aspect of this debate going forward and will oppose legislation requiring OSHA to issue a mandatory regulation."

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

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