News Notes: Court Approves—And Expands—Ergonomics Regulations

Responding to legal challenges by both employer and labor organizations, a trial court judge has refused to throw out California’s new workplace ergonomics rules, which took effect on July 3, 1997. Plus, the court ruled that the regulations, aimed at reducing repetitive motion injuries, must apply to all California employers and struck down an exemption for businesses with fewer than 10 employees. The court also made several other technical changes, some of which could boost your ergonomic responsibilities. For example, it eliminated a requirement that more than 50% of each injury be attributable to repetitive work activity in order to be covered by the law. Further legal challenges are pending. We’ll have a full report as soon as the rules are formally modified.