News Notes: Ergonomics Developments

In a victory for ergonomics advocates, Digital Equipment Corporation was recently ordered to pay almost $6 million to three computer users who claimed that Digital’s keyboards caused arm, wrist and hand injuries. Other keyboard makers, including IBM and Compaq, have successfully defended themselves against similar claims-though they now issue warnings to their employees and users. On another front, California’s new ergonomics regulations are tentatively expected to take effect February 2, 1997, despite threatened lawsuits by both labor and employer organizations. (See CEA November 1996 for details.) Finally, federal OSHA has announced that it plans to renew its previously stalled efforts to develop federal workplace ergonomics standards