Issued by OSHA in November, the standard contained workplace rules intended to prevent injuries resulting from repetitive motions or strenuous lifting. It also required U.S. businesses, including food companies, to have an ergonomics safety program in place by November 2001.
However, scores of businesses and industry groups complained that the standard was unwieldy, vague and confusing. Some companies also contended that the cost of complying with the standard would force them out of business. Indeed, industry groups estimated that compliance would cost U.S. businesses as much as $100 billion to implement, compared to OSHA's estimates of $4.5 billion in compliance costs averaged against an annual savings of $9 billion in health care, compensation and other costs.