HOUSE PANEL SLOWS ERGONOMICS REGULATION

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- A bill that would put the brakes on the Labor Department's issuing of a final ergonomics standard cleared a key House panel last week.

18 vote along party lines.

The bill would keep the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from promulgating an ergonomics standard until the National Academy of Sciences has completed its study of workplace injuries caused by repetitive motions.

In February, OSHA issued a preliminary final ergonomics standard, which the business community widely criticized for being overreaching and causing $3.5 billion in annual compliance costs.

Supporters of the regulation say it would reduce the estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in workers' compensation costs arising from ergonomic injuries by setting guidelines for businesses to follow in crafting their own ergonomics standards.