State bans workplace ergonomics regulations
March 28, 2011 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, State OSHAs, ergonomics
As the debate over ergonomics regulations continues, one state has decided that such rules are too expensive for businesses.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) has signed into law a measure that bans the state’s OSHA (MIOSHA) from issuing ergonomics standards for businesses.
In a statement, Snyder said, “Ergonomics regulations go too far, are too costly to implement and will impede job growth.”
Democrats in the state legislature opposed the ergonomics ban.
The state had been working on an ergonomics standard under the previous administration of Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) but never enacted it. Snyder told MIOSHA to stop work on the measure in January.
MIOSHA can still issue ergonomics recommendations at the request of businesses, and if federal OSHA enacts ergonomics rules, the state must abide by them.
California is the only state with workplace ergonomics regulations.
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Tags: ergonomics, Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan, MIOSHA
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March 28th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
“California is the only state with workplace ergonomics regulations.” And we see how well that has helped California retain jobs.
March 29th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Guest - Yes, but those who do have a job are ergonomically correct.
March 30th, 2011 at 9:14 am
This is where the Governor Snyder is wrong for doing this. If the the companies would do a job hazard anaylsis it would show them were they need to do some correction action on how the person is positioning their body. By educating the employee about ergonomics and how it effects your body. But to just disregard the safety standards is just not right.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:26 am
Reply - There are a small number of employers that follow the California State egonomic regulations. Cal/OSHA may inspect for regs for M.S. disorders within specific industeries. I summit that is all about money (fines) not safety, just look at the attitude of Federal OSHA. There is the ‘General Duty Clause’ that the states can fall back on without having a new regulations.
The’General Duty Clause’ is a far more powerful weapon during inspection than a new regulation.
April 5th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
There needs to be more cooperation between business and government regulation. We’ve come to a point where blind sided, though perhaps well intended, regulations contradict each other. OSHA may require one thing, while the EPA requires something quite different Regulations do not tend to protect an employer, but almost always cost an employer. California has regulated itself into bankruptcy, when a cooperative atmosphere between unions and management might have solved problems more efficiently.
More cooperation + less regulation = more profit = more jobs.
April 7th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I agree with Michigan governor. I think it is too early to bring this ergonomics standards. “Ergonomics” is very vast, are mostly debatable and and hard to prove their bad consequences on human body. Without proper understandings of ergonomics and enough researches, as governor said, “ergonomics” as standard will definitely impede job growth. We don’t want any more job out sourced.