Opposed to OSHA's new ergonomic standards?

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2001

Then you're not alone. The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), along with the National Coalition on Ergonomics, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Manufacturers, are supporting legal action to block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) ergonomics program standard published in the Federal Registrar Nov. 14 (see MMH, Dec. 2000  on www.mmh.com ).

Even though these organizations are not opposed to helping reduce workplace injuries, they feel strongly that OSHA was premature in issuing the final standards.

Ann Christopher, general counsel, regulatory affairs at IWLA, says while OSHA did make some positive changes in the final standard, it has not gone far enough to address key issues, such as the involvement of the health care professional, that will have an impact on implementation of the standard.

The organizations also argue that the standard is not based on sound science, exceeds OSHA's statutory authority, is vague and incomprehensive, is based on a fatally flawed economic analysis, and is the result of serious procedural violations of law by the agency.

In order for IWLA and other organizations to feel comfortable with the standard, Christopher suggests OSHA become sensitive to the cost to the community; offer guidance on how to be specific in addressing individual injuries; and provide information on how OSHA put together the action trigger sheet.

At press time, these organizations hoped that a court-ordered stay would go into effect by the end of December, delaying the standards from going into effect on Jan. 16, 2001.