HB 1837 would allow the Department of Labor and Industries to impose costly, complicated, and unnecessary regulations on all employers by overturning voter-approved Initiative 841.
Prior to the passage of Initiative 841, The Department of Labor & Industries adopted an 18-page confusing rule that required all employers to identify jobs that pose ergonomic hazards and then do whatever is “technologically and economically feasible” to eliminate those hazards. The “concise explanatory statement” for the rule was 126 pages long and the rules were anticipated to cost employers $725 million back in the early 2000s. That number would be over $1 billion in today’s dollars.
HB 1837, by repealing the initiative, paves the way for L&I to start regulating businesses on this issue again. We need to have all businesses sign in OPPOSED at the hearing on Wednesday and email their legislators to stop this bill from moving.
TODAY: Please sign in “CON”, opposing HB 1837 at Wednesday’s hearing in the Senate. (You must do this before 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 25, 2022)
Then contact your State Senator to send them an email to OPPOSE HB 1837. Washington’s businesses cannot afford more rules!
Contact State Senator | State Senator Not Listed?
- Employers are already struggling with workforce and supply chain issues. Ergonomics regulations will make these situations worse.
- Ergonomics regulations will cost employers billions and lead to more automation.
- There is no consensus in the medical community on the causes and cures of repetitive motion injuries – individuals all have different risks.
- Ergonomics regulations will exacerbate our worker shortage, particularly in some of our most essential workplaces, by limiting how many hours employees can legally work.
- The Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that despite the passage of Initiative 841 (which prohibited L&I from adopting ergonomics rules), the Department can still require employers to address workplace musculoskeletal disorders (ergonomics) – thus employees are already protected.
- Businesses around the state are still trying to recover from the response to the pandemic. Ergonomics rules will be the nail in the coffin for many.
Thank You for Taking Action Today!
