Efforts To Stop OSHA Ergonomics Regulations Heighten

ByMichael A. Verespej It's not likely to survive a presidential veto -- and it might not even survive a House-Senate conference committee crafting a final version of the $339 billion budget bill for education, health, and labor programs. But legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives last week succeeded in attaching a rider to the budget bill that would prevent OSHA from issuing its controversial rules to govern ergonomics practices in the workplace that are designed to reduce repetition-motion injuries. If the House effort succeeds, it would be the third time Congress has legislatively prevented OSHA from issuing the rules in the now 10-year-old battle. Both business and labor have already stated their intent to go to court to block the rules from being implemented should OSHA issue final regulations by yearend as is the plan.