WASHINGTON [FNS] -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration here has extended the public comment period on its proposed ergonomics regulation by one month, but industry officials say it's not enough time.
Two business days before the comment period was set to expire, OSHA extended the comment period until March 2 to "accommodate the large number of requests for extra time to prepare submissions."
Hearings on the proposed standard, originally scheduled to begin Feb. 22 here are now scheduled to begin March 13. The Chicago hearing will be held April 11 as planned.
The rule, relased in late November, would require employers to provide work spaces and equipment to support the physical makeup of each individual doing his job, like those on assembly lines or at other jobs requiring repetitive motions or heavy lifting.
Supermarket-industry representatives have sharply criticized the proposed regulations and warned the high costs would be detrimental to distributors.
To further the case against the proposal, the Food Marketing Institute requested a 180-day extension for comments, while the National Coalition on Ergonomics, which represents FMI, Food Distributors International and the National Association of Manufacturers, asked for a 120-day extension.
"OSHA is continuing to ramrod its proposal through the regulatory process," Tim Hammonds, FMI president and chief executive officer, said.
