Michigan OSHA has issued a revised draft of an ergonomics standard whose original content was criticized by state business interests. If the proposal becomes law, Michigan would become the only state other than California to have a state ergonomics rule. Reportedly, the Michigan draft would be even more rigorous than California's.

According to published reports, the draft would require that:

• Employers would be responsible for involving employees; assessing risk factors; and eliminating, reducing, or controlling ergonomic hazards where economically and technically feasible.
• Employees would receive ergonomic training that would cover risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and symptoms, as well as reporting procedures.
• Workplaces with existing ergonomics programs would be judged to be in prior compliance with the requirements for training and assessment.

Business groups have opposed ergonomics regulations, which they say would add cost and bureaucracy to doing business. Charles Owens, director of the Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, told a state newspaper:

"It will make us uncompetitive with the rest of the country and it's just astounding that they're even contemplating making this rule mandatory." Michigan OSHA Chief Doug Kalinowski acknowledges that the process, several years running, has been "very contentious."