Rails Subject to New Ergonomics Rules

March 2, 2000 9:45 AM, EST

Contrary to published reports, some workers in the railroad industry will not be exempt from a proposed rule that would require trucking and nearly every other industry to revamp workplaces to reduce repetitive stress injuries, a spokeswoman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said last week.

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“Some railroad workers are expected to be covered,” said Susan Fleming. “But we are still trying to identify who they are.”

Confusion arose when John Cutler, general counsel for the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference, reviewed the agency’s cost estimates of implementing the proposed ergonomics rule on trucking. The estimates did not mention railroads.

But when Cutler looked at a more detailed economic analysis of the proposal on OSHA’s Web site, he found that railroads, along with mining, construction and the maritime industry, would be exempt.

For the full story, see the Feb. 28 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.