Business groups and their conservative Republican allies in Congress are moving aggressively to stop OSHA's ergonomics standard. They've launched a major campaign, led by the Chamber of Commerce, to pass legislation (H.R. 987 and S. 1070) to prevent OSHA from issuing a standard for two years until the National Academy of Sciences completes yet another study on ergonomics. These bills are gaining co-sponsors and momentum and are moving forward. They represent the most serious and significant threat to worker safety and health in this Congress. Unless we act now to stop them, we could lose this fight, making it impossible to protect workers from ergonomic hazards for many years to come.

Here's the specifics of what's going on and what you need to do to help win this important fight:

The Blunt Bill (H.R. 987) and Bond Bill (S. 1070) to Stop the Ergonomics Standard

On May 19, 1999, the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee reported out on a party line vote H.R. 987, legislation to block OSHA's ergonomics standard. The bill, introduced by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), would prohibit OSHA from issuing a proposed or final ergonomics standard or guideline until the National Academy of Sciences completes a second study on the science of ergonomics—a review that is expected to take two years. When H.R. 987 was introduced on March 4, 1999, it had 21 co-sponsors. It currently has 143 co-sponsors.

H.R. 987 is expected to be reported out of the full Committee on Education and the Workforce shortly. Sponsors then will try to move the bill to the House floor for a vote, possibly before the August recess, either as a free-standing bill or as a rider to the OSHA appropriations bill.

A companion bill (S. 1070) was introduced in the Senate on May 18, by Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO), which currently has 30 co-sponsors—all Republicans—a number that makes this bill a serious threat.

What You Need To Do

• We've won the legislative fight on ergonomics before and we can win it again. But we need to act now to stop this legislation. Call or write your representative and senators. Tell them not to co-sponsor or vote for H.R. 987 or S. 1070 or any effort to block OSHA from issuing an ergonomics standard. Tell them these bills will result in more workers being crippled and injured. Send your members of Congress a pre-written e-mail.

• Are you a victim of an ergonomic injury? Tell your representative and senators how this injury has affected your life and why an OSHA ergonomics standard is needed to protect workers. Send us an e-mail and share your story. We are looking for people who can speak about how these injuries can change a person's life.
  

OTHER ERGONOMIC NEWS

• SBREFA Report
  
  The Small Business Review Panel submitted its report on OSHA's draft ergonomics standard to OSHA Assistant Secretary Jeffress on April 30. The review is required under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (SBREFA). The report provides an overview of advice and recommendations from small business representatives on ways to minimize the burdens of the proposed ergonomics standard on small business. The panel, consisting of OSHA, the Office of Management and Budget and the Small Business Administration, heard comments from 20 people representing small businesses. No one from unions or other interested parties are invited to participate in these reviews, making them totally one-sided and only involving parties who generally oppose any form of regulation.
  
  The report basically summarizes the concerns the 20 small business representatives have with the draft proposal. The concerns range from the trigger being used to the medical removal protection provision in the draft. OSHA will address some of these concerns as it finalizes the proposal, which is scheduled to be sent to OMB in late May or June. OMB will have 90 days to review the draft proposal. It is still expected that the proposed standard will be published in the Federal Register in September 1999.
  
  

• NAS Report II
  
  The second National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel tasked to determine the relationship between work and musculoskeletal disorders convened for its first meeting May 10-11 in Washington, D.C. The first day of the meeting was open to the public. The Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace heard presentations from NIOSH, OSHA and congressional staffers. The panel's work is expected to take 24 months.
  

Whatever you do, don't be silent on this issue. Your members of Congress need to hear from you today!

For more information e-mail us at OSHMAIL@aflcio.org.