The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today commended the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) for its "Take a Stand Day" to provide one-on-one consultations with employers to identify ways to effectively address health and safety issues in the workplace, without fear of citations or fines.

"We are pleased that MIOSHA is willing to partner with Michigan job providers to help them improve the safety and health in work environments," said Wendy Block, Director of Health Policy and Human Resources for the Michigan Chamber. "We agree with MIOSHA that having an effective system to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses is an important part of being successful in today's global economy."

That said, Block stated that job providers would be better served if MIOSHA and the Granholm administration redirected their energy on creating a healthy regulatory environment and halted promulgation of the proposed California-style ergonomics standard.

"It is unfortunate that MIOSHA and the Granholm administration feel these cooperative efforts are not enough and continue to pursue harmful over-regulations of job providers that will severely injure Michigan's economic competitiveness," remarked Block.

"If the Granholm administration truly wants to provide assistance to job providers, they will take a stand against the proposed state ergonomics standard," said Jim Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy and Associate General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber, who added that the proposed regulatory mandate is "unclear, burdensome and likely to cost Michigan businesses - large and small - hundreds of millions of dollars and increase job losses across the state."

"We should not follow California as the only other state to impose a mandatory ergonomics rule," said Block.

"We all agree that employers have a responsibility to provide its employees with a safe workplace," Holcomb commented. "We encourage MIOSHA to continue utilizing programs, such as 'Take a Stand Day,' to ensure that employers and employees are working together to improve job safety without damaging our economic climate."

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 50th year as a statewide business organization, now representing more than 7,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is only one of four state chambers of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Wendy Block of Michigan Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-371-7678

Web Site: http://www.michamber.com/