Jim Baird: “I rise to oppose this legislation. It is bad for workers. It is bad for America. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong…”

“I rise to oppose this legislation. It is bad for workers. It is bad for America. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Disapproval Resolution for OSHA Ergonomics Rule, which threatens the health and safety of our nation's workforce. Each year, more than 650,000 American workers suffer from work related musculoskeletal disorders caused by repetitive motion and overexertion. These are hardly minor aches and pains. These are serious, disabling conditions that have extensive impacts on workers' lives, and are estimated to cost the American public something in the realm of $40-$50 billion a year. The lives of workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, back injuries or other similar injuries, as a result of unsafe workplace conditions, are changed forever. Frequently, they lose their jobs, become permanently unemployed, or are forced to take severe pay cuts to continue working. These injuries destroy lives and they destroy families--and it's simply unacceptable. I want to emphasize to my colleagues that, as a scientist and a clinician, I am dogged in demanding strong, peer-reviewed science in making important public health decisions. OSHA's ergonomics standard, issued on November 14, 2000, is critically important to working men and women. The standard is based on voluminous evidence, sound science and good employer practices and should not be repealed.”