Mar 20, 2001 Congress has overturned the Final Ergonomics Standard published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
IPC members who contacted their representatives saw their effort pay off when the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voted to pass a joint resolution of the disapproval of OSHA's Final Rule on Ergonomics. President George W. Bush has said he will sign the legislation into law.
Once a law, the ergonomics regulation will have no force or effect, and organizations will not have to comply with it.
"This is a victory over an unreasonable regulation," said Denny McGuirk, IPC president. "IPC members put a tremendous amount of work and cooperation into convincing their legislators that this costly rule would not be effective."
The Final Rule on Ergonomics sought to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace, partially through identifying their signs and symptoms, common risk factors and work activities associated with MSDs.
IPC believes the requirements would have imposed new costs on American businesses leading to significant job loss, or reduced salaries and benefits, without significantly enhancing workplace safety.
For more information on the OSHA Ergonomics Rule, visit IPC's Health and Safety issues Web page at http://www.ipc.org/html/fslegislative.htm, or contact Fern Abrams, IPC director of environmental policy, at 202-638-6219, or e-mail fabrams@ipc.org.
IPC is a US-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion US industry employing more than 400,000 people.
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