Employers whose workers repeat the same motion over and over in their jobs could be in for trouble from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Agency bureaucrats have signaled that they will propose a workplace ergonomics rule next summer.

• At issue are repetitive motions such as keying in data, typing and assembly-line operations.

• An OSHA standard would presumably require employers to recognize and mitigate back, neck, arm and hand injuries -- called musculoskelatal disorders.

• The agency claims that one-third of occupational injuries and illnesses are linked to repetitive motion and overexertion at work.

• But some experts say too little is known about the causes of any ergonomic injury that may happen on the job -- or whether there is even such a thing as repetitive motion disorder.

The National Coalition on Ergonomics, OSHA's most vociferous critic, contends that employers need specific information before the government sets a standard. They want to know how many repetitions are too many, and what such terms as "abnormal" or "excessive activities" mean.

Congress has so far been less than enthusiastic about the need for ergonomic regulations.