Blunt cites study in faulting OSHA ergonomics standard

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt welcomed the results of an 18-month-long study by a National Academy of Sciences panel on musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back and upper extremities.

The panel concluded that such disorders can be caused by both non-work- and work-related conditions, according to a news release from Blunt's office.

Blunt said the NAS study "only adds weight to earlier objections to a sweeping government-mandated one-size-fits-all' ergonomics prevention program covering 90 million workers."

Over the objections of Congress, which funded the report, the Clinton administration instituted workplace rules, effective Jan. 16, dictating how business must respond to ergonomic injuries. Blunt believes that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should have waited for and used data from the study before implementing the new rules.

"We all want a safe work environment," Blunt said, "but we don't want to needlessly put people out of a job. Many smaller businesses are going to face that dilemma. There has to be sound middle ground, but the OSHA rules on ergonomic injuries fail to provide the opportunity for flexible solutions that scientists say (are) needed to successfully treat American workers."

Ergonomic injuries have been declining for four years as more American businesses institute voluntary programs to reduce injuries from lifting, bending, twisting, reaching and repetitive motion.

In Blunt's view, according to the release, allowing OSHA to start issuing fines and redesigning work places to comply with the new rules "will cost American businesses billions and may not prevent a single injury."

The NAS study also recommended more research be conducted to clarify the causes of lower-back and upper-extremity injuries.

The complexity of the problem is increased by factors such as household work, sports, exercise programs, age, weight, gender and personal habits.