Uploaded August 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Speaking at this 1999 OSHA press conference announcing the draft Ergonomic Standard was Walter Frazier, a 41-year-old poultry worker, who had undergone four surgeries on his hands and wrists. For nearly nine years, Walter worked as a "live-hanger" in a chicken processing plant. An admittedly nasty job, live-hanging is simple in concept. Ten to twelve people stand beside a processing line, stretch over a barrier bar designed to contain the often-flapping chickens, grab the chickens by the legs, and then stretch upward while twisting to hang the chickens on fast-moving overhead shackles. Walter repeated this process about once every three seconds-that's about 10,000 times a day, 50,000 times a week, 2.5 million times a year. Walter felt the initial pains in his hands shortly after beginning to work at the plant. Through the years his pain intensified while his health has diminished. Finally, in 1998, barely able to lift 20 pounds and unable to perform many daily household chores, he agreed with his doctor's recommendations and had the first of four surgeries in an attempt to repair his damaged hands. In addition to severe hand problems, Walter has lower back pain and severe and chronic arthritis in his hands and shoulders. This is the video of OSHA’s press conference announcing the Agency’s draft ergonomic standard on November 22, 1999, led by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman and Charles Jeffress, assistant secretary for OSHA. The purpose of the proposed standard was to reduce the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) experience by employees. Under the standard, employers would be responsible for taking measures to reduce work-related problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back strains. In 1990, then Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole declared ergonomics an issue that OSHA must address. In November 1999, after almost 10 years research, discussion, and compromise, OSHA published its proposed ergonomics standard and in March-May 2000 held weeks of public hearings in Washington, DC, and hearings in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois. Both supporters and opponents of the standard had an opportunity to voice their opinions and submit evidence to the docket. OSHA issued its ergonomics standard in November 2000. The rule was expected to protect 27 million workers at 1.9 million workplaces from repetitive motion injuries and illnesses. However, two months later, using the little known and never before used Congressional Review Act, a business friendly Congress voted to repeal the ergonomics standard. On March 20, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the legislation that did away with the ergonomics standard, leaving thousands of workers at risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Speaking at this 1999 OSHA press conference announcing the draft Ergonomic Standard was Walter Frazier, a 41-year-old poultry worker, who had undergone four surgeries on his hands and wrists. For nearly nine years, Walter worked as a "live-hanger" in a chicken processing plant. An admittedly nasty job, live-hanging is simple in concept. Ten to twelve people stand beside a processing line, stretch over a barrier bar designed to contain the often-flapping chickens, grab the chickens by the legs, and then stretch upward while twisting to hang the chickens on fast-moving overhead shackles. Walter repeated this process about once every three seconds-that's about 10,000 times a day, 50,000 times a week, 2.5 million times a year. Walter felt the initial pains in his hands shortly after beginning to work at the plant. Through the years his pain intensified while his health has diminished. Finally, in 1998, barely able to lift 20 pounds and unable to perform many daily household chores, he agreed with his doctor's recommendations and had the first of four surgeries in an attempt to repair his damaged hands. In addition to severe hand problems, Walter has lower back pain and severe and chronic arthritis in his hands and shoulders. This is the video of OSHA’s press conference announcing the Agency’s draft ergonomic standard on November 22, 1999, led by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman and Charles Jeffress, assistant secretary for OSHA. The purpose of the proposed standard was to reduce the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) experience by employees. Under the standard, employers would be responsible for taking measures to reduce work-related problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back strains. In 1990, then Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole declared ergonomics an issue that OSHA must address. In November 1999, after almost 10 years research, discussion, and compromise, OSHA published its proposed ergonomics standard and in March-May 2000 held weeks of public hearings in Washington, DC, and hearings in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois. Both supporters and opponents of the standard had an opportunity to voice their opinions and submit evidence to the docket. OSHA issued its ergonomics standard in November 2000. The rule was expected to protect 27 million workers at 1.9 million workplaces from repetitive motion injuries and illnesses. However, two months later, using the little known and never before used Congressional Review Act, a business friendly Congress voted to repeal the ergonomics standard. On March 20, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the legislation that did away with the ergonomics standard, leaving thousands of workers at risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
