Workplaces Could Get Safer with a Democratic President in Office

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/09/19/workplaces-could-get-safer-with-a-democratic-president-in-office/

by Mike Hall, Sep 19, 2007

America’s workers are likely in store for a little pain relief if a Democrat takes the White House next year. TheHill.com reports that all but one (Delaware Sen. Joe Biden) of the Democratic hopefuls say they will put new workplace ergonomics rules at the top of their job safety agenda.

Unions, workplace safety advocates and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) worked for several years to develop an ergonomics rule that would have significantly reduced the number of workers’ repetitive stress injuries. Strident opposition from Big Business groups and Republican congressional leaders stalled action for years, but in November 2000, OSHA issued the rule.

Yet shortly after President Bush took office in 2001, he signed legislation to repeal the OSHA workplace ergonomics standard, even though a 2001 National Academy of Sciences study estimated 1 million workers a year suffer from carpal tunnel and other repetitive strain injuries. He instead called for voluntary guidelines.

Big Business’ opposition to the job safety standard hasn’t lessened over the years and if the ergonomics fight is revived, corporate special interests are expected to mount a huge campaign to prevent a new standard.

Peg Seminario, AFL-CIO Occupational Safety and Health director, told TheHill.com that unions want a new administration to make ergonomics a priority and to ensure new OSHA and Department of Labor leaders are strongly committed to a new standard.

We need to be strong and thoughtful in proceeding on this issue because it will continue to be a big political fight.

FULL story at link.