107th Congress Votes to Kill Ergonomics Standard for Workers

IMMIGRANTS & EMPLOYMENT

Immigrants' Employment Rights and Remedies

107TH CONGRESS VOTES TO KILL ERGONOMICS STANDARD FOR WORKERS
Immigrants' Rights Update, Vol. 15, No. 2, Mar. 29, 2001

Despite over ten years of studies and reports on the need for strong workplace ergonomics standards that would help prevent the crippling effects of repetitive stress injuries, Congress has voted down the ergonomics regulations that were issued under the Clinton administration late last year. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 223-206 to repeal the regulations, while the vote in the Senate was 56-44.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's final rule on ergonomics, 29 C.F.R. section 1910.900, was published on Nov. 14, 2000; Congress repealed the rule on Mar. 7, 2001. Repetitive stress injuries often result in life-long disabilities, and they occur especially in industries whose workers are disproportionately immigrants-workplaces such as garment shops, and meat-packing and poultry plants.