NEW WORKPLACE RULES COULD AFFECT NEWSPAPERS

By: Todd Shields NAA Opposes, While Labor Supports Ergonomics Regs





With a notice in Tuesday's Federal Register, the Clinton administration put into place sweeping workplace-safety rules that union leaders support, but newspaper publishers oppose.



The standards aim to prevent repetitive-motion injuries among workers, including those who type or lift bundles. If the rules withstand a court challenge led by manufacturers, they would take effect several days before the new president takes office in January.



The rules, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, aim to reduce injuries stemming from poor workplace ergonomics - that is, from factors such as repetitive motions, awkward posture and vibration. OSHA said such factors lead to nearly 600,000 annual injuries to arms, hands, backs and legs that cause time missed from work. It said its regulations will affect 102 million workers.



OSHA, a branch of the Department of Labor, estimated annual costs to comply with the regulations at $4.5 billion, but said annual benefits would amount to $9.1 billion as employers pay less in workers' compensation.



The Newspaper Association of America - which represents more than 2,000 newspapers, mostly dailies - said the rules are seriously flawed. "Thousands of small businesses will be surprised and trouble by the incredible reach of this onerous federal mandate," said NAA President John F. Sturm.



Sturm criticized as "too low" thresholds that would force employers to implement a comprehensive ergonomics program if a worker reports a musculoskeletal disorder. For example, an ergonomics program would be needed if an injury complaint is lodged in a workplace where people use a keyboard or mouse for more than four hours a day.



Union leaders praised the regulations, with AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney calling them "the most important worker safety action developed in (OSHA's) history." He added, "Ten years in the making, the new standard will prevent hundreds of thousands of crippling repetitive strain injuries every year."



Larkie Gildersleeve, director of research for The Newspaper Guild, which is part of the AFL-CIO, said the regulations could lead newspapers to take earlier action to correct ergonomic deficiencies. She said that could save newspapers money, and spare workers from injury.



In recent years, many newspapers have improved their workplaces, Gildersleeve said. But, she added, "I can tell you ... people are still being injured."



The National Association of Manufacturers last week filed a federal lawsuit seeking to void the rules, calling them too broad and scientifically unsound.







Todd Shields (tshields@editorandpublisher.com) is the Washington editor for E&P.







Copyright 2000, Editor & Publisher.