Statement by the American Federation of Teachers
on the Need for Comprehensive Ergonomic Standards

More than a year after the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush Administration repealed OSHA's ergonomics standard, on-the-job injuries continue to be the number one workplace safety and health problem.

The inadequate proposal announced by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this month falls far short of the urgently needed, comprehensive protections that workers deserve. Instead, this proposal offers only limited nonspecific, voluntary guidelines that many employers can and will simply ignore despite the fact that 1.8 million workers suffer workplace injuries each year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of every three injuries or illnesses that results in sick or disability leave is caused by an ergonomic problem. Nurses, janitors and cooks, many of whom are represented by AFT, have some of the highest injury rates of any profession - and they lack any regulatory protection.

As the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions reviews the Administration's proposal, we hope they will heed the undeniable evidence of injuries to American workers and the need for adequate and enforceable ergonomics protections in the workplace.

On behalf of our members attending the hearing today, as well as the more than 1.2 million other AFT members, including educators, paraprofessional, nurses and healthcare workers, and public employees, we urge the Senate to advance a meaningful ergonomics standard to protect all American workers.

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