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Bush Takes Dont Ask, Dont Tell Approach to Repetitive Motion Injuries July 1, 2003 The Bush administration has cancelled plans to require employers to report repetitive motion injuries on Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) forms. Labor Department officials said the data would be useless in identifying causes and preventing injuries. The approach ensures that identifying potentially hazardous jobs will remain virtually impossible. "Without the kind of tracking to identify which jobs cause injuries, even employers who want to improve the workplace voluntarily will be hindered in their efforts," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "Just because the government is not going to enforce a safety standard doesnt mean that workers will stop becoming ill or permanently disabled on the job." Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) comprise a broad category of injuries, including disorders caused by a single event, such as a heavy lift, and repetitive or cumulative events, such as lifting, typing or assembly line work. OSHA officials under the present administration have not reached a consensus about what constitutes such an injury, so they have apparently decided not to gather any data. But that wont bring them any closer to solving the debateor helping workers who have been hurt or disabled by such injuries. Two months after he took office, Bush revoked ergonomics rules implemented by President Bill Clinton, which required workers to be examined by a health-care provider if they had signs of suffering from a repetitive motion ergonomic injury. They also required a company to implement a program if two employees reported such injuries within 18 months. Business groups balked at the laws, and successfully fought for their repeal. Ergonomics injuries account for one-third of all serious workplace injuries and cost approximately $50 billion each year. Many job-related repetitive motion injuries could be prevented if strong safety standards were in place, labor unions say.
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4/10/02 Bush's Ergonomics Rules: Compliance Optional3/5/02 Bush’s OSHA To Cut Jobs2/22/02 House Republicans Delay Action While Unemployed Exhaust Benefits2/06/02 Bush Cuts Worker Training Programs1/14/02 Unwilling to Freeze Future Tax Cuts for Richest One Percent, President Announces Plans for Budget Deficit1/09/02 Judge: Bush Anti-Worker Order is Unlawful1/3/02 Bush Rolls Back Rules For Deadbeat Contractors12/05/01 Federal Judge Overturns Bush PLA Ban11/01/01The Bush Administration is again pushing for fast track negotiating authority in international trade deals.11/01/01 President Bush fires another shot at unemployed workers . . .Ergonomics Assault...April 2001 Journal
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