On Wednesday, March 21, President George W. Bush signed a bill that repealed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) published ergonomics standard. The controversial standard would have applied to landscape firms, lawn and garden service centers and other grounds-maintenance employers. The repeal came after protests from business groups, saying that the standard would have reached beyond the workplace.

Congress used the Congressional Review Act to repeal OSHA’s ergonomics standard on Wednesday, March 8. The Senate passed a Joint Resolution of Disapproval by a vote of 56-44 on Tuesday, March 7, and the House followed by passing the measure by a vote of 223-206.

The standard would have taken effect in October 2001. According to The Washington Post, Labor Department officials have begun working on an alternative, which could include replacement regulations or guidelines.