SAFETY ENGINEERING

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) passed a comprehensive ergonomics standard on November 14, 2000, which became effective on January 16, 2001. This standard would have regulated ergonomic hazards across industries in the United States. The U.S. Congress used the Congressional Review Act of 1996 to repeal the ergonomics standard on March 20, 2001. OSHA has been limited on the regulation of ergonomic hazards since that time. OSHA currently regulates ergonomic hazards using the "general duty clause" and issues guidelines for specific industries with high incidence rates for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

1. Do you think Congress was correct in repealing the comprehensive ergonomics standard? Should OSHA continue to regulate ergonomic hazards through the general duty clause and issue guidelines for specific industries?

2. If not, what approach would you suggest for OSHA?one page