Soon after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration promulgated an often ill-defined set of ergonomic standards designed to prevent workplace disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, the Washington Post reported that the agency's various policies also extended to cover employees working out of their home.

[Ed.: OSHA went into full retreat as soon as the story broke, issuing a "clarification" meant to dispel "confusion" about its policy. In fact, the material the Post drew upon was posted at the agency's website under a heading titled, unambiguously enough, "OSHA policies concerning employees working at home," and signed by Richard Fairfax, director of compliance programs. Drawn up in response to a request for guidance from a Houston businessman, the policy directive explicitly states that employers may have to conduct on-site safety inspections to ensure compliance.

Martha Kent, director of OSHA's safety standards program and head of the ergonomics initiative, later told a trade publication that issuing a regulation "is a thrill; its a high.... I love it; I absolutely love it. I was born to regulate. I don't know why, but that's very true. So as long as I'm regulating, I'm happy."]

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