It's been a while since our last ergo update, and that's because we've been hard at work preparing comments and getting ready for the upcoming public hearings on OSHA's proposed ergonomics standard. The AFL-CIO submitted full testimony and a summary of our position to OSHA March 2.

OSHA's Proposed Ergo Standard

OSHA's proposed ergonomics standard was issued in November 1999 and, with your help, can become law by the end of the year. The proposed standard is designed to reduce ergonomic hazards and prevent back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and other musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic hazards have been the nation's biggest job safety problem for far too long, crippling and injuring more than 600,000 workers each year.

But the business community and its Republican friends in Congress have been fighting to stop the standard for years, and they won't let up now. Last year, a bill (H.R. 987) to block the standard narrowly passed the House. Opponents are pushing hard to pass similar legislation (S. 1070) in the Senate. As the comment period came to a close and hearings near, lawmakers are getting louder about their opposition to the standard.

We have to speak up and send letters to senators, representatives and OSHA telling them that workers need an ergonomics standard and want it to become law.

Getting the Standard to Become Law

The period for written comments on OSHA's proposed ergonomics standard ended March 2. Public hearings begin in Washington, D.C., and then move to Chicago and Portland, Ore., and wind up back in Washington, D.C. They'll be done in mid-May. (See http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/events/hearings.html for hearing dates and locations.) OSHA then will consider all the testimony and comments and draft a final rule. The goal is to have a final rule issued before the end of the year. But this won't happen if the business community has its way and gets Congress to pass legislation to block the standard.

What You Can Do

• Organize petition and letter-writing campaigns to Congress and the Department of Labor urging them not to delay OSHA's ergonomic standard. You can find a petition and a fact sheet with a sample letter on the AFL-CIO webpage: Workers Memorial Day.
  
  

• Write a letter to your local newspaper, call in to talk radio shows and talk to reporters you know about doing a story highlighting the need for an ergonomics standard now and why the business community and Congress should stop trying to delay the process.
  

For more information on the proposed standard, check out the AFL-CIO Safety webpage at or call 202-637-5367.

Washington State Ergonomics Proposal

The comment period on Washington state's proposed ergonomics rule closed on Feb. 24, 2000. For the next few months, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries will be reviewing the comments in detail and considering changes to the proposal. A final rule should be completed about the end of May 2000 barring any successful attacks led by the business community.

Industry and congressional opponents in Washington state have continued to attack the rule, most recently with an attempt to pass legislation that would have required the state to test the rule on its own agencies before requiring private industry to comply. The legislation was killed in the Ways and Means Committee, but can be resurrected by a floor vote or by its inclusion in the budget, which could happen right up until the final hour of the session.

If you live in Washington state, please take a moment to call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000, or send an e-mail to your state senator and your state representatives, and tell them to "STAY OUT OF THE WAY and allow implementation of the L&I ergonomics rule." For continued updates on the ergo situation in Washington state, check with the Washington State Labor Council and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

OSHA and Home Work

On Feb. 25, OSHA issued a directive that provides guidance to its inspectors about policies and procedures concerning worksites in an employee's home. The directive says that OSHA will not inspect home offices, but will inspect other home-based worksites when they receive a complaint. Unfortunately, this does not put the issue to rest, as Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) still are considering introducing legislation to codify the directive into law. For the complete text of OSHA's directive on home work, go to the OSHA website: http://www.osha.gov/.

Workers Memorial Day

It's time to get geared up for Workers Memorial Day 2000. Workers Memorial Day is observed on April 28 each year to honor those who have been injured, killed or made sick on the job. This year's theme is "Mourn for the Dead Fight for the Living, Organize and Mobilize for Safe Jobs." Materials can be viewed, downloaded and ordered through the AFL-CIO website at Workers Memorial Day. Please fill out the event form and let us know what activities you have planned for Workers Memorial Day.