These so-called ergonomic regulations require nearly every U.S. employer, including colleges and universities, to create programs to protect employees against injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitus. When a draft of the regulations was released last spring, the higher education community sent a letter of opposition to the Department of Labor because the rules could force colleges and universities to incur substantial costs revising their ergonomics programs and defending against claims for injuries originating outside the workplace. We stressed that the regulations were excessively broad and would unreasonably impose costs on employers for claims for injuries originating outside the workplace. We called for further scientific and medical study of the causal relationship between workplace practices and job-related illness and injuries. But the new ergonomic standards released this week are more extensive and complex than those originally proposed.
Key terms remain undefined and the list of covered injuries has been expanded.
Following an analysis of more than 1,600 pages of regulations, we will send letters next week to the Department of Labor and Hill leadership expressing our concern about cost and ambiguity. If not blocked by Congress or the courts, the new standards will take effect in January, but compliance would not be mandatory until next October. In the wake of the presidential elections, February will be a perfect time to come to Washington, DC to share perspectives on higher education and public policy, given the new national and state leaders. By the way, President to President will take a hiatus next week for the Thanksgiving holiday.