Repeated trauma injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, continue a dramatic decline for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest statistics released by the federal government. The injuries have declined by 24 percent since 1994 and make up just 4 percent of all workplace injuries and illnesses. The latest statistics are for 1998, when 253,300 repeated trauma disorders were reported. In 1994 that number was 332,000.
Despite this encouraging trend, these types of injuries are the target of a controversial proposed regulation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that the National Coalition on Ergonomics calls “reckless and lacking in sound science.” According to Ed Gilroy, co-chair of the National Coalition on Ergonomics, “Year after year the number of workers continues to rise, yet these numbers continue to fall. Employers are committed to providing a safe workplace. And, while we don’t know enough to regulate, these numbers reflect the common sense steps employers are taking to protect their workers.” The National Coalition on Ergonomics represents over 300 businesses and associations.
