Then He Was Sold.

They're At lt Again

Not content with their present responsibilities, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration is now proposing an Ergonomics Standard aimed at "materially reducing" muscle strains and sprains suffered at work. Like many ideas from government, it seems on its face to have merit. But even a cursory examination indicates the proposal fails the real world test of practicality and affordability.

While the standard would affect the entire U.S. economy, one of the first to object was the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association. They didn't mince words: "This proposed standard...would easily force a significant portion of our members to throw in the towel."

One example cited by NLBMDA was a lumberyard in Maine that had two "musculoskeletal disorders" (job injuries) and called in an ergonomic specialist and an occupational nurse to analyze the job and make recommendations ala OSHA. Their suggestion: Hire two more employees so the work could be rotated. A con- servative estimate showed it would cost an additional $67,0O0 to run the yard.

Figuring a 2.57o profit annually, the store would need to generate $2,704,000 in additional sales. But, because the yard specializes in supplying large commercial contractors, a l.9Vo profit figure is more to the point. At that level $3,558,000 in new annual sales would be required.

After the expense of analyzing each job as OSHA proposes, ergonomic solutions then would be implemented. Many aren't tangible or proven, making the whole procedure more of an ongoing process than a one-time situation. It is not difficult to see this exercise as never-ending government overview and involvement in operations; all wrapped up in reams of red tape.

Government is concerned with workers' well being. But, so is business and to a greater degree. As any employer will tell you, without good and healthy people a business ceases to exist.

OSHA's latest brainstorm isn't law yet. Let's hope common sense prevails.