[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10926-S10927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               OEHS WEEK

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, the first Occupational and Environmental 
Health and Safety, OEHS Week, August 30 through September 3, 1999, is a 
reminder that while workers are safer than they used to be, injury, 
illness--even death--in the workplace is still an unfortunate reality.
  The American Industrial Hygiene Association, a not-for-profit society 
of professionals in the field of occupational and environmental health 
and safety, sponsors OEHS Week and plans for it to become an annual 
event. The goal is to bring a greater awareness of workplace and 
community health issues to the public. The theme, ``Protecting Your 
Future . . . Today,'' highlights the far-reaching nature of 
occupational and environmental safety's impact on the public.
  ``We chose Labor Day weekend as the perfect time to remind workers, 
management and the community at large that workplace safety affects 
everyone. Even one fatality on the job is one fatality too much,'' says 
AIHA President James R. Thornton.
  ``But beyond that, we are concerned with overall safety. We want all 
employees to consider their workplace environment, even in offices that 
otherwise may seem extremely safe. For instance, is your workstation 
ergonomically sound? Is your chair comfortable? Do you take occasional 
breaks to stretch? Is your computer monitor at the proper angle? All of 
these things can add up to the difference between working safely and a 
work-related injury or illness.

[[Page S10927]]

  ``We've made great strides in the last few years,'' he said, ``but 
there's still room for improvement.''
  As Thornton noted, if you've been working in the United States for 
the last decade, chances are that you're feeling safer on the job today 
than you did 10 years ago. That's because overall rates of worker 
illnesses and injuries have fallen dramatically since 1993, according 
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, in 1997 (the most recent 
year tallied by the BLS), the case rate dropped to 7.1 percent of all 
workers, despite a total of 3 percent more hours worked by the nation's 
employees. This translates to nearly 50,000 fewer reported injuries or 
illnesses compared to the previous year, despite the larger number of 
staff-hours--the continuation of a trend that began in 1993. Still, 
even with fewer reported illnesses, injuries and fatalities on the job, 
workers suffered 2.9 million injuries that resulted in lost workdays, 
restricted duties or both.
  Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I thank the Senator.
  Mr. President, the construction trades in particular are quite 
dangerous. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman reported recently that 
``injuries and illnesses for construction laborers, carpenters, and 
welders and cutters increased by a total of 8,000 cases.'' Truck 
drivers, too, suffer more than their share of injuries, incurring 
approximately 145,000 work-related injuries or illnesses each year.
  For the average worker, backs take the brunt of the injuries. About 4 
out of 10 injuries involve strains and sprains, most of them back-
related. Women are more susceptible than men to repetitive motion 
illnesses from jobs such as keyboarding, data entry, cashier work and 
scanning. These musculoskeletal disorders, known as MSDs, include 
carpal-tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Many are caused by faulty 
ergonomic conditions in the workplace, such as poorly placed furniture 
and improper counter heights, say industrial hygiene, IH, 
professionals, experts in occupational and environmental health and 
safety.
  I thank the Senator for yielding.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, although workplace injury is a primary focus 
for IH professionals, they like to point out that safety issues don't 
disappear in the company parking lot. This awareness gives OEHS Week 
its second important emphasis--safety in the community and home.
  Thornton noted that in addition to its focus on workplace safety, 
OEHS Week is designed to heighten awareness about several vital 
community health concerns, including carbon monoxide poisoning, indoor 
air quality and noise exposure.
  ``Just as in the workplace, paying attention to seemingly small 
things can reduce injuries in the home. There are lots of things the 
average person can do,'' said Thornton. ``Reducing noise pollution and 
hearing loss by lowering the volume on stereos or wearing earplugs when 
mowing the lawn, for instance.
  ``We also recommend installing a couple of inexpensive carbon 
monoxide detectors in your home. They could save your life--and your 
family's lives as well.''

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