Buffeted by criticism of inaction, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said last week she will hold three hearings on work-related injuries, a first step toward pursuing a Bush administration policy to protect workers through employer cooperation.
The hearings will be July 16 in Washington, D.C.; July 20 in Illinois; and July 24 in California, with a goal of developing a universal definition of injuries caused by repetitive motion and stress. Chao will decide by September if she will pursue another government regulation or a voluntary policy.