Washington State Delays Ergonomics Rules for Two Years

March 14, 2001
The Washington State Senate voted Monday for a two-year delay in\r\nimplementing new ergonomics rules for workplaces throughout the\r\nstate.

The Washington State Senate voted Monday for a two-year delay in implementing new ergonomics rules for workplaces throughout the state.

The decision to delay the state''s ergonomics rules comes just one week after the U.S. Senate and House voted to repeal federal OSHA''s ergonomics standard.

A solid group of minority Republican state senators teamed up with four Democrats to delay the rules despite opposition from ruling Democrats and Democratic Gov. Gary Locke.

Instead, the Senate voted for new studies on the regulations that the state Department of Labor and Industries adopted last May.

State plan states were required to adopt an ergonomics rule at least as effective as the federal OSHA rule when it was released in November.

The state''s rules were to be enforced starting in 2003. This bill would extend the enforcement deadline to 2005.

These rules differ from federal OSHA''s rules because they focus on preventing injuries rather than on what happens after a worker is injured.

The rules would require employers to change workplaces to protect employees from disorders such as back strain, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome that can develop from repetitive motions.

The program initially would focus on employers with the highest risk of injuries, including sawmills, nursing homes and building trades.

The measure now goes to the state House, where its fate is uncertain.

Republicans oppose the ergonomics rules, but most Democrats are following the lead of organized labor in supporting the labor department.

The department estimated it would cost Washington businesses $80.4 million a year to implement the rules, a cost that would be offset by $304.7 million in savings from time lost due to injuries.

The Association of Washington Business, however, says the rules would cost more than $700 million.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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