That puts us on target for publication of the proposal this summer. Careful attention to these critical components is what makes safety pay. And the payback is handsome. That's because injuries and illnesses decline. Workers' comp costs go down.
Medical costs decrease.
Those of you who've already instituted an effective safety and health program know that safety pays. And you'll be in good shape when this rule takes effect because our proposal includes a grandfather clause for existing programs. We are also moving forward on our proposed ergonomics program proposal. In 1996, nearly 650,000 U.S. workers experienced a lost workday musculoskeletal disorder. More than 34 percent of all lost workday occupational injuries and illnesses stem from overexertion or repetition.