Proposals to track musculoskeletal disorders opposed by US business lobby

In the US, a proposal by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) related to repetitive-strain injuries is facing stiff opposition from big business. The proposal would require employers to track and report "musculoskeletal disorders" to health officials. But the US Chamber, the biggest pro-business lobby group in Washington, says it believes OSHA is opposing the move.

"There are a lot of scientific questions on whether ergonomic injuries are caused by the workplace or outside the workplace, including lifestyle and genetics," said Marc Freedman at the US chamber. "Unlike every other hazard for which Osha regulates, ergonomics is not limited to the workplace. That makes it extremely problematic."
 

OSHA stated it sought the information because of fears ergonomic injuries had been "significantly underreported" as a reason employees miss work. In some cases, OSHA has received reports that employers have scheduled employees for surgery to address ergonomic injuries on Friday afternoons and had them back at work on Monday so that the cases did not have to be recorded as "days away" from work. Souce: Financial Times, 03 February 2010. tinyurl.com/ydg9t45

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