Labor Dept. to Delay Final Ergonomics Rules

The Labor Department said it will delay finalizing rules for reducing repetitive-motion injuries on the job after business groups and Republican lawmakers complained the process was being rushed. The agency said it will postpone Tuesday’s deadline for submitting written comments on the proposed rules to March 2. The new worker protections would require employers to minimize everyday physical stresses of certain jobs that involve activities such as heavy lifting or computer keyboard work. Long promised by the Clinton administration, they have already been delayed for years as the Republican-controlled Congress, under pressure from business groups, repeatedly passed legislation requiring more scientific studies.