Ergonomics Standard Back on the Agenda for Democratic Presidental Candidates

http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2157

Great news from Ergoweb:

Polled in The Hill, former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) said the president’s voluntary guidelines have left workers exposed. “As president, I will make [the act] law,” he said.

Like Edwards, candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) opposed overturning the ergonomics standard, according to the same article. “Clinton supports the ergonomics rules established by the Clinton administration and reversed by President Bush in 2000,” said a spokesman for the campaign.

The campaign of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill) said he would “reinstate OSHA’s ergonomics rule” while supporting a policy protecting small businesses that might be adversely affected by a new regulation.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) have laid out systematic plans to reduce workplace MSDs.

After President George W. Bush canceled the Ergonomics standard brought in under the Clinton administration, it is very encouraging to see the Democrats propose to implement a standard that will improve the lives of workers and save business, despite the fear factor of having invest money in ergonomic improvements, billions of dollars in money in WCB premiums and lost-time injuries. All I know is that we've lost 8 years of progress, and it is high time that we get caught up!