The U.S. Department of Labor announced last week it is postponing the announcement of a plan of action on ergonomics.

The announcement of a plan on the controversial issue, which was expected this month, will be made later this fall. Members of the Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration have been heavily involved in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This has prevented the department from devoting full attention to the ergonomics issue, said a Labor Department press release.
Congress pulled the plug on a controversial ergonomics regulation in March. In resuming debate on the issue this summer, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said she wanted three questions answered: how should an ergonomics injury be defined; how can you tell if an ergonomics injury is work-related; and what are the most effective ways of reducing ergonomics injuries.
Despite years of debate and near-imposition of a comprehensive rule, the answers to these questions still are obscured by emotion and differences in scientific opinion.
In July, the Department conducted three forums in Virginia, Illinois and California, to solicit public comment on these questions. Witness testimony and written comments are under review. (See "Ergonomics Debate Resumes Following Scuttling of Rule," 7/17/2001.)