De morbis artificum diatriba [diseases of workers]

In March 2001, with the support of President George W. Bush, the US Congress voted to undo the nation's landmark ergonomics standard passed in November 2000. The repealed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard addressed one of the longest-ignored occupational threats to American workers. Each year, more than 1.8 million US workers report musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back injuries which costs industry an estimated $9 billion a year. The standard was supported by public health and labor advocates and was the result of more than 10 years work and a year of hearings and public comment. It would have required employers to create programs informing workers about musculoskeletal disorders and symptoms and encouraging workers to report them, and to evaluate the workplace to address risks. Business groups claimed it would be too costly. This extract from Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) reminds us that, however current the battles over OSHA's ergonomic standard may be, these types of occupational hazards were recognized by astute public health and medical observers long ago. (Original abstract - amended)