[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROTECTION OF AMERICAN WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM MUSCULOSKELETAL 
                               DISORDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recommend that OSHA be enabled 
to continue its work on protecting American workers and employees by 
preventing Musculoskeletal injuries and other injuries at the workplace 
of America. An update of OSHA guidelines (which have been extensively 
and voluntarily used by employers for the last 10 years) is timely.
  American employers currently spend $15-20 billion/year on disability 
and absenteeism due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, not 
considering the legal costs of law suits filed by employees. The total 
cost to the American society is about $60 billion/year due to medical 
costs and lost productivity of injured employees.
  The ergonomics of work is a well-studied field by scientists in 
academia and NIOSH and the conclusions from that research point that 
most musculoskeletal disorders caused by the unsound ergonomic 
practices could be avoided if guidelines by OSHA were implemented at 
the workplace, thus protecting workers from un-necessary suffering and 
saving money for employers. While the regulations by OSHA may be 
improved and made more efficient, flexible and responsive to the needs 
of a particular employer, OSHA's capability to protect American workers 
and employers should be maintained.
  I believe that the costs of efficient OSHA regulations for protecting 
workers from musculoskeletal injuries are minuscule in comparison with 
the cost of maintaining the status quo and continuity of costly 
musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.

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