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News
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2001 |
CONTACTS:
Dave Schnittger or Dan Lara Telephone: (202) 225-4527 |
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President Bush Signs Repeal of OSHA
Ergonomics Rule WASHINGTON, DC - President Bush signed a resolution (S.J. Res. 6) today to repeal the ergonomics rule adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in November 2000. The Senate passed the resolution on March 6, with the House approving it a day later. Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement: “With the signature of President Bush, an ergonomics rule that would have caused more problems than solutions has been rescinded. Repealing this unworkable regulation does not preclude OSHA from implementing more reasonable protections that safeguard workers and the economy. This was the right approach for employees and employers at a time of economic uncertainty. “Musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace are a very serious issue, but there were significant problems with this regulation. OSHA can now go back to the drawing board to develop a responsible and workable ergonomic protection for the workplace. I support the comprehensive approach that Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao will take to ergonomics. I look forward to working with her to ensure that worker safety is dealt with in a manner that truly protects the interests of employees and employers.” Last November, OSHA published its final ergonomics rule. The rule took effect January 16, 2001, four days before President Bush took office. It was one of the most sweeping, complex, and expensive safety and health rules in the 30-year history of OSHA. The rule would have applied to six million employers with 93 million employees. ###
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