"The fact that Gov. Locke is proceeding with the Department of Labor and Industry’s ergonomics regulations, in spite of the research showing the adverse economic impact they will have on Washington businesses and agriculture, is disappointing to say the least."

So said Washington State Grange Master Terry Hunt after Gov. Locke's March 5 press conference, where he announced the ergonomics rules would be put into effect this July, though penalties for not complying with the rules have been put on hold for two years. Those two years will be spent further educating businesses and the public about the rules, said the governor.

"Delaying the enforcement of these regulations for two years does not change the fact that the governor and the Department of Labor and Industries have ignored the pleas of agricultural interests and businesses across this state, and ignored the research showing the high cost to those groups of implementing these rules," said Hunt.

In these economically-stressful times, the last thing small businesses and agricultural producers need is more regulations forced upon them.

"It is especially discouraging that these rules will be imposed without legislative sign-off, a vote of the people or any public involvement in the process whatsoever," he said. "The people of this state have a right to be a part of the decision-making process at the state level, especially in a case like this where so many will be adversely touched by these rules. L&I and the governor have taken it upon themselves to implement these ergonomics rules, and once again regulations have been placed upon us that the people of this state had no say in."

Gov. Locke stated at the press conference the rules would have minimal economic impact on businesses. "Research has clearly shown that is not true," said Hunt. "The cost to businesses who implement the plan for the first year alone would be around $750 million. Ag and small business simply cannot take that kind of hit in this economy."

Especially hard-hit will be agriculture. "We’re talking about people working in orchards, a physically demanding job," said Hunt. "Under the ergonomics rules, those workers would not be able to perform productively, and already-struggling orchards will become even less profitable than they already are in the current market."

The Washington State Grange is part of a lawsuit brought against L&I and these ergonomic regulations.

"I am hopeful the courts will see the cost of these regulations would far outweigh any benefits of them," said Hunt. "Hopefully, the court will also see, as they did with the Department of Ecology and their shorelines regulations, that L&I overstepped its authority in placing ergonomics regulations on the people of this state without legislative approval."