Rick Snyder says ban against ergonomics rules will stimulate job growth in Michigan
In a move meant to foster a business environment where job growth can flourish, Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation prohibiting the state from forcing businesses to comply with what he characterized as burdensome and unnecessary workplace ergonomics rules. The governor first called for legislation banning mandatory ergonomics rules in his State of the State address, and Senate Bill 20 — now Public Act 10 of 2011 — makes that law.
“We all recognize the need to ensure employee safety in the workplace, but ergonomics regulations go too far, are too costly to implement and will impede job growth," Snyder said in a statement, adding the quickness with which lawmakers delivered shows their commitment to reinventing Michigan as a place where the regulatory burden on businesses is low.
Former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration worked on ergonomics rules but never enacted them. Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices in a way that fits the human body and limits injuries. Senate Bill 20, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, amends the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act.
While the bill prevents state-level administrative rules mandating workplace ergonomics in Michigan, it still allows the state — at the request of an employer — to provide guidance, best practices information and assistance for the implementation of voluntary ergonomics programs. Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
moveover2011
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
Well here is a challenge to bring business to michigan or in this case keep michigan going. THE big THREE need TRANSMISSIONS for there new car being build...but japon a disasterzone ..and not building transmission So here is a challenge HOW fast can Governor Synder build the factory... Or hint for the time ...rebuild the Junkyard transmission
A2Cronie
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
Someone's gotta trim the fat off this flabby economy, and that man is Rick. Can't tell you how relieved I am to have a real pragmatist in office, one who just shoots from the hip, calls em when he sees em and orders up the improvements that MI really needs.
Cici
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
I cannot believe this!! I personally know several people that were and are completely and permanently disabled from repetitive motion jobs on equipment that was completely un-ergonomic. And the employer did not want to spend the $$ to update equipment. So does this mean employers can mandate repetitive motion jobs without investing in better equipment?? This will certainly result in more occupational diseases that result in workers compensation and disability. Disabled people are then unemployed and un-employable. Investing in the health of employees means investing in our workers. What a cruel move.
Dennis
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
You must have worked in automotive plant with the rest of us dummies. I've seen it too. I did health and safety work for a UAW plant before we had ergonomics and people were injured seriously. And you are right, the companies don't want to spend the money. They can replace the injured worker easier...Did you work at Ford's
L. C. Burgundy
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 3:28 a.m.
The only state in the US that even has an general industry ergonomics rule is California. Even liberal Massachusetts knows a bad idea when they see it, it appears. Mandatory ergonomics rules are the epitome of vague feel-good regulation that accomplishes little and costs a lot. Makes money for trainers though for all the mandatory training it entails. California has yet to show any comparative benefit from having them. Oh, and Townie - these days those states you mentioned have lower unemployment rates than we do, and it's been that way for years.
dlb
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
But who would want to live there? I have lived all over the country over the years, but the last 30+ years have settled in Michigan because of its beauty and past sensitivity to the needs of the disadvantaged (not because I need the services but because it tells me something about the values of a place). Engler began to tear the heart of Michigan out and now Snyder is going to finish the job of taking us to the bottom.
snapshot
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 3:15 a.m.
Townie, unions won't allow Snyder to make necessary changes leading up to what you request. You, sir, are on page 99, Snyder has just started page 1. there is no perfect solution but folks like you make it completely unmanageable.....folks like Snyder know you have to assign priorities, establish bounderies, and cut your losses where you can to get chaos under control. then you build from there. Hey Bob, it's a long way from the US to Nigeria.......you are not even on the same continent with your logic. Mississippi and Alabama surpassed Michigan years ago because they don't have unions surpressing creativity and productivity. They also have a lot lower property taxes. Your comment, however, provides great insight to your value system.
margie
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 1:44 a.m.
Rick says, cut earned income tax to poor....REINVENT cut donations to universities, food kitchens, and the like...REINVENT tax pensions....pensions too rich, 401 plans good for business cut film industry support...REINVENT Emergency Manager Rules to take away your union/democratic rights takes over your city/school system, remove elected officials, sell whatever they want, stay as long as they want, unelected manager paid huge & doesn't have to update anyone..good for business State workers paid too much,..good for business State workers benefits cut/health cost increase,....good for business stealth campaign to end union rights..good for business large K-12 school funding cut, ..good for ?? large Colleges/University cut, ..good for ?, invite to speak at a Public University 1.4 billion debt by state increased to over 3 billion by giving business a tax cut,.... good for business end item pricing,..good for business Cuts to cities..REINVENT, good business climate Cuts to cities, BUT more money if you bust up union contracts, cut benefits..good for business ban against ergonomic rules,... good for business People who voted for Snyder voted for the destruction of our cities, public schools, democratic rights, layoff of police/fire, loss of benefits/salary, union rights, now safety rules because those pesky safety rules are too much of a burden for businesses. In other words, business is more important than people who live and work in MI. The CEO Gov., can pay $1 million dollar to someone from Utah to slash & burn everyone but business & wealthy, with the help of other staffers with huge salaries, in the cause of reinventing MI. because you don't care enough and he's not really destroying your rights directly...these are incentives to REINVENT MI Wake up Michigan...stop being a doormat and fight like Wisconsin & recall to save our state.
L. C. Burgundy
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 3:39 a.m.
Ergonomics rules have been tried for 18 years in California to little effect. You are just mouthing political rhetoric and know little or nothing about what you talk about. How tiresome.
snapshot
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 3:22 a.m.
Margie, like you and your fellow believers have done such a great job. What possible solution could you offer when folks like you have created and perpetuated the problem? Just keep criticizing and impeding progress towards fiscal security for your shortsighted prosparity.
Will
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
"foster a business environment" and a state where the "regulatory burden on business is low." Why does this sound so familiar? Oh yeah...those were the same conditions for Wall Street and Banks and they did very well!
David Briegel
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 1:14 a.m.
Will, they did very well at the public trough!
a2idealist
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.
Bob Martel, I'd vote for you in a minute.
Townie
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
Talk about worthless changes... 'stimulate job growth...' yeah. Remember that Toyota plant that went to Canada a few years ago? Toyota said the two issues that made them decide to go to Canada instead of the US: 1) the education level of Canadian workers was superior to US workers and would require less training, 2) national healthcare in Canada so no need for those expenses. So what is Rick doing about either of the above? #1 - cutting education, #2 - nothing (and the Republican legislature opposes to any healthcare reform efforts. Race to the bottom - with a concerted effort we can be the next Mississippi, Alabama, etc.
Bear
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
Average Joe, MIOSHA makes OSHA look like kindergartners. And yes, companies should fear them, because the force of the law & the associated fines are put into place to make sure that unsafe practices do NOT become the norm. Remember the tragic fiasco of the stage collapse in the Silverdome about a year ago? That was a non-union, rushed job, where they didn't do the math and overweighted the trusses holding up lights & audio equipment. Union riggers would never have allowed it to happen. They would've flat out refused to do it. Without the hard fought safety rules that unions fostered, which became formalized in agencies like OSHA & MIOSHA, you would be seeing a lot more workplace deaths & injuries. Not that big business actually cares. If it weren't for the threat that OSHA represents, they'd go for unsafe practices in a heartbeat if it proved to be more profitable. look at the story & uncoverd practices of BP Deep Horizon and it tells how a company used shortcuts to save money that resulted in loss of life, property & wholesale destruction of our Gulf Coast environment. This is just the first step in good ol' boy Rick Snyder's plan to make Michigan more "business friendly". Tarballs anyone?
sbbuilder
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 11:07 a.m.
Mr Briegel So, what you are saying is that the average blue collar union construction worker is also proficient in civil engineering? They know all about modulus of elasticity, shear forces and bending moments, yield points and strain hardening, the difference between ductile and brittle materials and so on. Those union construction guys must be amazing.
jcj
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
David I am a little closer than "knowing" some of those workers. I have ran union commercial jobs for over 30 years. I don't remember the particulars of the Silverdome accident. My point is there are cases where a worker union or not will see something and question whether it will work or not and even whether it is safe or not. But 99% of the time the worker will build what has been drawn by a licensed architect and approved by the city building dept. You are blaming the wrong party when you blame a non-union worker. How many people have been killed on union jobs. There is no question that non-union workers often have more pressure on them to do things that are unsafe.
David Briegel
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 12:58 a.m.
I know several members of that union and they would never, ever just click their heels and salute and do anything that would jeopordize the safety on the job. The work would stop until it was made safe! You can take your anti union bias elsewhere on this one!
jcj
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
"Remember the tragic fiasco of the stage collapse in the Silverdome about a year ago? That was a non-union, rushed job, where they didn't do the math and overweighted the trusses holding up lights & audio equipment. Union riggers would never have allowed it to happen. They would've flat out refused to do it." What? Have you ever worked on a union job? The workers don't "do the math" they do what is on the blueprint! It is not fair to blame the non-union workers for that accident. Blame whoever did the design or whoever approved the design!
Linda Peck
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
Who is Rick Snyder? Why he is running up all of his pet peeves up the pole? What is next, revoking the Miranda rights?
average joe
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:12 p.m.
Rob & Bob- You guys ever heard of OSHA- Trust me, they're more frightening to a business owner than any ergonomic rules from the state.
Rob T
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 10:06 p.m.
I'm not sure what Michigan's ergonomic rules were, so I'm not sure if I should be relieved or distressed. I'm going to guess distressed. At least workers comp still creates a disincentive for unhealthy workplaces.
Dennis
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
What you don't understand about worker's comp is that it can be denied for years by company doctors. Then it gets tied up in courts while the worker continues to fight for their rights and have to pay for their own treatments if it is something like repetitive motion trauma. Have you ever had a workers comp claim?
Bob Martel
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
Sure, bring back sweat shops, child labor and eliminate the minimum wage, I bet job growth will boom after that! Surely there have to be SOME minimum standards or we might as well all move to Croatia or Nigeria.
Moscow On The Huron
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
So, you're saying getting rid of ergonomics rules will bring back sweat shops and child labor? You really want to go on record - in public - with outrageous alarmism like that?
mightywombat
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
Apparently you've never been to Croatia, which seems to have modern labor laws and acceptable working conditions. Next time, check your facts...
David Briegel
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 12:55 a.m.
Instead of demanding that COMMUNIST China civilize their nation and improve their standards, our greedy leaders are demanding that the leader of the civilized world abolish any semblance of civilization, standards or morality when it comes to corporate greed. We must continue the downward spiral until America resembles China!