Fw: now-action-list Oppose Imminent Repeal of Ergonomics Standard

[Guest guest]

We need to get this passed, as many of us get these injuries more easily

than others, which often results in termination of a job which you could

have continued doing if the appropriate 'adjustments' were made to your

working environment!

MM / NSIF

Martha Murdock, Director

National Silicone Implant Foundation

Dallas, Texas Headquarters

----- Original Message -----

From: " National Organization for Women " <now@...>

<now-action-list@...>

Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 5:50 PM

Subject: now-action-list Oppose Imminent Repeal of Ergonomics Standard

> Please feel free to forward the following to activists:

>

> From the National Organization for Women Action Center:

>

> Action Alert

> Oppose Imminent Repeal of Ergonomics Standard

> March 5, 2001

>

> Action Needed:

>

> Your immediate phone and email messages to the Senate are needed to urge

> your senators to oppose the repeal of an important worker protection

> program that primarily benefits women. Employees in data entry positions,

> assembly line slots, nursing home staffs and many other jobs face a

> heightened risk of workplace injury if implementation of the new

ergonomics

> standard is halted. The Bush administration, Republican Congressional

> leaders and industry groups are poised to stop implementation of the

> standard through an expedited process that limits public debate. If they

> are successful, hundreds of thousands of workers will be without ergonomic

> protections and will suffer debilitating injuries every year. The vote is

> expected to occur on Tuesday, March 6 so please contact your senators as

> soon as possible.

>

> Background:

>

> Every year over 600,000 workers in the U.S. suffer from painful repetitive

> strain and back injuries known as musculoskeletal disorders; a majority of

> these workers are women. Such jobrelated injuries are often caused by

> lifting, repetitive movements and poorly designed workplaces. Carpal

tunnel

> syndrome (a painful wrist injury) and chronic back pain are several

> examples. These injuries are a serious workplace safety problem, costing

> society $45 to $50 billion each year.

>

> The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) developed this

> standard, or set of regulations addressed to employers, to prevent such

> extensive worker injury. Refined over ten years of study, and nine weeks

of

> hearings that included over 1,000 witnesses and 7,000 written comments,

> this standard went into effect this January. It is estimated that

> implementation of the standard will prevent more than 4.6 million injuries

> over the next decade and save employers $9.1 billion a year. Business and

> industry opponents argue that it is too costly to implement and that more

> time is needed to study the problem. Their opposition is really intended

to

> permanently halt any government efforts to address this pervasive problem.

> Supporters argue that the standard is a flexible measure based on strong

> scientific research and there is no reason that workers should be denied

> its protections.

>

> The National Association of Manufacturers and other big business interests

> have been battling the ergonomics standard for years. Thanks to

legislation

> (Congressional Review Act) that gives Congress the power to overturn

> virtually any administrative rule, a Resolution of Disapproval has been

> introduced. This will allow a floor vote immediately, without hearings or

> committee approval. Debate on the standard is limited to ten hours and a

> filibuster is not permitted.

>

> If efforts to repeal the standard are successful, OSHA would be barred

from

> issuing comparable protections to protect workers. In order to prevent the

> repeal of the ergonomics standard, and further erosion of workplace health

> and safety standards, we must win the Senate vote on Tuesday.

>

>

> Talking Points:

>

> Please call both of your senators to with the simple message to vote

> against the Resolution of Disapproval on the ergonomics standard; main

> number for Congress is (202) 224-3121 or you can consult

> http://www.senate.gov/ for the office phone numbers and email information.

> Note: many senators are now requiring constituents to visit the senator's

> websites in order to send a message. You can access those websites through

> the URL just provided. Activists whose senators are in included in the

> following list are especially urged to make those calls or send emails.

>

> The senators that we are targeting for this effort, and their Washington,

> D.C. contact numbers are Sens. s (R-AK, 224-3004), Murkowski (R-AK,

> 224-6665), Lincoln (D-AR, 224-4843), Nighthorse (R-CO, 224-5852),

> Carper (D-DE, 224-2441), Graham (D-FL, 224-3041), (D-FL,

224-5274),

> Cleland (D-GA, 224-3521), (D-GA, 224-3643), Fitzgerald (R-IL,

> 224-2854), Bayh (D-IN, 224-5623), Breaux (D-LA, 224-4623), Landrieu (D-LA,

> 224-5824), (R-ME, 224-2523), Snowe (R-ME, 224-5344), Dayton (D-MN,

> 224-3244), Carnahan (D-MO, 224-6154), Baucus (D-MT, 224-2651),

> (D-NE, 224-6551), Voinovich (R-OH, 224-3353), DeWine (R-OH, 224-2315),

> Specter (R-PA, 224-4254), Chafee (R-RI, 224-2921), Hollings (D-SC,

> 224-5972), (D-SD, 224-5842), Jeffords (R-VT, 224-5141).

>

> *All numbers are D.C. area code 202.

>

> If you need more information, here are some talking points:

>

> * The ergonomics standard provides a sound approach to prevent injuries

> and hazards in the workplace. It was developed with over a decade of

> research and the written and oral testimonies of thousands of people.

>

> * The ergonomics standard gives companies flexibility in addressing the

> problem of musculoskeletal injuries. It provides a framework for employers

> to deal with injuries, without having a government agency dictating the

> details. Small and large companies alike are able to find solutions under

> the standard that are the most effective for their workplace.

>

> * The ergonomics standard has the potential to prevent 4.6 million

> injuries in the next decade and save $9.1 billion per year. The Xerox

> Company has reported a 24% reduction in the number of injuries and a 56%

> reduction in costs between 1992 and 1998 as a result of adopting the

> ergonomic standards. The standard is both fiscally responsible and

> workeroriented.

>

> * It is supported by many businesses, including Xerox, Levi Strauss, 3M

> and Bristol Myers.

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