[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 155 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H11566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ERGONOMIC STANDARDS

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, if one is an employer, what are the eight 
most dreaded words in the English language? ``I am from OSHA and I am 
here to help.'' Recently the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration said, we know enough to act now. We want to issue 
sweeping new and punitive ergonomic standards. OSHA plans to finalize 
its standards in the coming weeks unless Congress intervenes.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to intervene. OSHA refuses to 
wait for the results of the National Academy of Sciences study on the 
issue, a study which Congress recommended and funded in 1998. OSHA's 
regulations would impact nearly every industry, cost employers millions 
of dollars, and result in substantial increases in worker compensation 
costs due to the proposed 100 percent replacement of wages and 
benefits. These facts might very well have been uncovered by the 
National Academy of Sciences, but OSHA would not wait.
  Mr. Speaker, along with dreaded words come dreaded policies and 
arrogance. I yield back the balance of my time and any common sense 
left at OSHA.

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