UPDATES: STATE CONSIDERS ERGONOMICS BILL

RICHMOND, Va.-The Virginia Senate could approve a measure as early as today that would set criteria for determining when carpal tunnel syndrome should be covered under workers compensation.

S.B. 1043, sponsored by Sen. Richard J. Holland, D-Isle of Wight, would require that claimants prove to a degree of "absolute medical certainty" that their carpal tunnel syndrome stemmed from their jobs. The measure, which businesses support, also spells out what tests a physician would have to perform to certify that a case of carpal tunnel syndrome should be covered by workers comp.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee is scheduled to vote on S.B. 1043 today, and if the committee gives its expected approval to the bill, S.B. 1043 could go to the full Senate later today.

An identical bill, H.B. 2366, sponsored by Delegate Glenn R. Crowshaw, D-Virginia Beach, has been assigned to a subcommittee of the House of Delegates' Finance Committee.