Candidate calls for workplace standards on repetitive motion injures

The Democrat doctor from Cedar Rapids who’s running for Congress says it’s time for national workplace standards to cut down on repetitive motion injuries. Dr. Julie Thomas says the Bush Administration’s voluntary approach won’t help workers. Critics say ergonomic standards advanced by the Clinton Administration would have been too costly for businesses. Thomas says she wouldn’t force businesses to make workplace changes that aren’t “economically feasible.” Thomas had a repetitive motion injury herself from turning the knobs on the doors of exam rooms in her office. The owner of the building replaced the knobs with levers, and solved the problem. Thomas says her Republican opponent, Congressman Jim Leach, has repeatedly opposed federal ergonomic standards. Thomas, who is a pediatrician, says she’s treated lots of kids who got repetitive motion injuries from playing Nintendo too much.