07/16/2001
As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today opened a series of public forums to gather input on the ergonomics issue, Pennsylvania car-wash owner and NFIB member Brian Landon urged the administration to avoid any burdensome new federal regulation.
OSHA last year finalized a sweeping new ergonomics mandate that would have likely been the costliest regulation ever imposed on small business. However, Congress and President Bush repealed the regulation early this year, effectively saving Main Street billions of dollars in compliance costs for a regulation that many believe would have had little or no effect on workplace safety. In his written testimony, Landon told OSHA "a new regulation is not necessary."
"According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a 24 percent decrease in (ergonomic) injuries between 1994 and 1998," Landon explained. "During review of the old rule by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, they called the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for employees of small businesses insignificant."
Landon owns and operates Landon's Car Wash and Laundry in Canton, Penn. Landon's business, which employs two other people, also includes the re-manufacturing, installation and service of equipment in the car-wash industry. In his testimony, Landon praised the course of action being taken by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
"I'm especially excited to be able to offer comments, not in the framework of a proposed rule, which I believe would have created enormous burdens and costs to me and my small business, but in the framework of the principles set forth by Labor Secretary Chao: emphasizing prevention, sound science, incentives, flexibility, feasibility and clarity," Landon said.
In addition to today's public forum in Arlington, Va., OSHA plans to host similar events in Chicago, Ill., on Friday and in Palo Alto, Calif., on July 24.
CONTACT: Michelle Dimarob, (202) 554-9000
