I am 43 years old and have worked for Briggs and Stratton for 24 years. I am a machine operator in a very heavy machining department. The flywheels that I machine range from 14 to 20 pounds. After the day is done, I have lifted anywhere from 35 to 50 tons of castings. Five years ago my hands started going numb. I had problems sleeping and just doing work around the house, such as cutting the grass and trimming the bushes because the vibration from these tools made my hands ache really bad. I was always dropping things such as coffee cups, soda and even the flywheels at work. The pain started and it was so intense in the morning that my fingers were so tight they would not move. I had a hard time just pulling my pants on or turning a doorknob. It was time to go see the doctor and I was diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel.
    I had both surgeries done and ended up with permanent nerve damage in my left hand. I have lost 30% of the strength in both my hands because of this. I still have problems today, almost two years later. I can’t open jars and have a hard time getting my gas cap off. I get frustrated at times because even though I was injured at work, the pain stays with me even after I punch out at night. I have lost sensitivity in my hands to the point where I cannot tell if the clothes in the dryer are wet or dry.
    I am not looking for pity here, but if I would have been educated about repetitive motion, I could have had     someone adjust my workstation and this would not have happened. 
    We have started hiring people at Briggs who are just out of high school. These people are the same age as my children. We need to educate and have strong health and safety committees to keep all workers safe. The children being hired are our children, our loved ones, and maybe even our grandchildren. It is our duty to keep them and all our workers safe. We need to protect and educate in order to have the knowledge to adjust our workstations.
    I sincerely hope that what has happened to me will not happen to anyone else. This could have been easily avoided by educating the workers and having a strong ergonomic standard.
    This standard will force the employers to act with the safety of their employees in mind. Without it, the employers will do nothing and we will be at the mercy of companies that only care about productivity and the bottom line.
    I would like to, once again, emphasize the importance of education, safety and the need for an ergonomic standard that will force employers to comply with. I am not just asking for myself, but for your children, your grandchildren and mine.