Ergonomics: Common Sense Finally

Words: Dan KesterAs Abraham Lincoln once said, "Public opinion in this country is everything." That certainly held true recently in Washington State where by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent voters there repealed the so-called ergonomics rules designed to protect workers from repetitive stress injuries. These rules, developed by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, would have limited the number of hours a worker could spend in any one job with "repetitive" motions or awkward and uncomfortable positions. These rules were patterned after the same rules put forward during the Clinton Administration - rules that were ultimately rescinded by an act of Congress in 2001. These rules would have imposed unbelievable burdens on industry, resulting in lost productivity and valuable jobs, costing more than $725 million in the first year of implementation alone.

Fortunately, thanks to the repeal efforts of the Building Industry Association of Washington, an initiative was put on the ballot to overturn these stringent regulations. These rules would have applied to just about every sector of the State's economy - from grocery checkers, to nursing home employees to - yes - bricklayers and voters were finally persuaded that they would be put at a competitive disadvantage when it came to doing business.

Everyone wants a safe and hazard free work environment. But they also understand one basic, conservative tenet - that regulations aren't without cost and government's reach is oftentimes overly excessive. Other States such as North Carolina are working on their own set of ergonomics regulations and the Bush Administration continues to push guidelines for industries with high rates of incidence related to musculoskeletal disorders. Let's hope the voters of Washington State sent them and others a very strong message that basis of good government is the opinion of its people.

About: Legislative
The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

MAP Partner
Read More
Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Lily Burger
Masonry in the Media
Read More
Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More