[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DISAPPROVING DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RULE RELATING TO ERGONOMICS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2001

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
opposition to this harmful resolution which will prevent America's 
workers from safer working conditions.
  Over two years ago, Congress mandated that the National Academy of 
Sciences conduct a study to review the impact of repetitive workplace 
motions. Now that the results are back, the Republican majority is 
disappointed. They don't like the results. So, they are trying to kill 
the rule entirely.
  This Disapproval Resolution is simply another attempt to delay and 
ultimately block implementation of critical ergonomic workplace 
guidelines. These reasonable standards, already issued by the 
Department of Labor, will ensure that 'workplace safety guidelines are 
in place to prevent increasingly common workplace injuries.
  More than 647,000 Americans suffer serious injuries and illness due 
to musculo-skeletal disorders each year. These injuries are currently 
costing businesses $15 to $20 billion annually in workers' compensation 
costs. Yet, it has been estimated that the ergonomics standards will 
prevent 4.6 million injuries over the next decade, and will actually 
save employers and workers $9 billion each year.
  Tragically, these injuries disproportionately affect women workers. 
Although women make up 46 percent of the workforce and 33 percent of 
those injured, 63 percent of repetitive motion injuries happen to 
women.
  Women experience 70 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome injuries that 
result in lost work time. This is unacceptable and we must act now to 
prevent these injuries.
  Americans who are willing to work hard each day to support themselves 
and their families deserve reasonable standards to prevent workplace 
injuries.
  Many of the workers who will be covered by these common sense 
guidelines often work more than one job just to make ends meet. They 
work long hours loading trucks, moving boxes, and delivering packages. 
Their jobs aren't easy, but they are willing to show up every day and 
do their best.
  The last thing these hard-working Americans want is to get hurt. 
These sensible standards will keep them on the job and prevent costly 
workplace injuries.
  Opponents of these common-sense guidelines claim that they will 
``regulate every ache and pain in the workplace.'' This is simply not 
true. These standards will only ensure that companies make someone 
responsible for ergonomics standards and that employees are not afraid 
to report these injuries. This is hardly an overwhelming request.
  We must keep the Ergonomics standards in place. These standards 
protect hard-working Americans who deserve to work without the threat 
of injury.
  I urge all of my colleagues to stand with hard-working Americans and 
to oppose this harmful legislation.

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