Legal and legislative battles likely when OSHA ergonomic standard goes into effect Jan. 16.
A controversial OSHA ergonomic standard will go into effect Jan. 16, setting the stage for a likely legal and legislative battle. The National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other organizations have already filed lawsuits aimed at overturning the recent standard published just last November. Congress could also block the effective date by attaching a provision to a still-unfinished spending bill that funds OSHA.
While the standard exempts most of the construction industry, the rules definitely cover mechanical service and prefabrication shop workers. In addition, construction trade groups don't consider what may or may not be exempt as much of a leeway anyway.