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WASHINGTON — Labor unions, struggling to block an attempted repeal of new safety rules, brought out workers to describe careers wrecked and lives ruined by workplace injuries. 

One worker said she was permanently injured when she had to lift a paralyzed, 250-pound student from a wheelchair. For their part, business groups who oppose the regulations conducted their own lobbying effort in the run-up to an expected showdown vote next week. 

“OSHA’s rush to issue an ill-conceived, expensive and unscientific ergonomics standard is irresponsible government at its worst,” said a U.S. Chamber of Commerce summary being handed out on Capitol Hill. “The rule will cost businesses billions of dollars, yet the benefits to workers – if any – are uncertain.” 

Several Democratic aides conceded privately the barring last-minute switches, the GOP likely has the votes to prevail in an attempt to overturn the regulations. 

“It’s going to be a tough battle, but we’re going to win it,” said Randy Johnson, vice president of the U.S. Chamber for labor and employee benefits. As a result, Democrats were trying to determine whether they have the option under Senate rules of filibustering the measure. 

GOP aides, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bill would be brought up quickly in the House if it passes the Senate, possibly within two or three days. 

President Bush has not said whether he would sign the measure, although Republicans say they expect he would. 

The Clinton administration issued the more than 600-pages of regulations in mid-November after a decade-long struggle by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to regulate repetitive motion injuries. 

The rules took effect Jan. 16, four days before President Bush took office. Businesses have until October to comply with the first regulation by distributing information to employees and begin the process of receiving and responding to injury reports. 

Organized labor supports the rules, which could force companies to alter work stations, redesign facilities or change tools and equipment once employees are found to have sustained work-related injuries. 

Business groups generally oppose them as too far-reaching, costly and unscientific and threatening to override existing workers’ compensation laws. Several lawsuits have been filed to block them. 

Republicans plan to bring the issue to the Senate floor as early as Tuesday under rules that require a swift vote, according to lobbyists, union leaders and GOP officials. 

“Congress has no choice but to head off the devastating side effects of the Clinton ergo rule by dismantling it,” Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said Friday. 

Stafford, a member of the United Federation of Teachers union, said she eventually fell while trying to lift the student, who toppled on top of her and caused spinal disc injuries that have delayed her pursuit of a college degree and require her to take pills daily, go to physical therapy twice a week and remain under the care of a neurologist and an orthopedist. 

“I’m a young girl, and it hurts when I wear heels,” she said, in tears. 

Unions protested this week outside a National Association of Manufacturers meeting that Vice President Dick Cheney addressed. They also have been distributing information at work sites, showcasing workers with injuries, bombarding lawmakers with e-mails and phone calls and specifically targeting freshman lawmakers and several Democratic senators who voted against the rules last year. 

The U.S. Chamber and other business groups also have been lobbying heavily and want lawmakers to move under the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law that permits the House and Senate to pass legislation rejecting regulations issued by federal departments and agencies. The act would kill the regulations and prevent similar standards from being issued. 

Unions contend that would effectively kill hope for any ergonomics standards. 

OSHA estimates the rules would cost businesses about $4.5 billion in compliance costs but result in $9 billion in benefits by reducing injuries. Officials say 1.8 million workers in the United States have injuries related to ergonomics, with 600,000 missing work each year as a result. 

Business organizations put the cost of compliance much higher, at more than $90 billion a year. 

On the Net: Occupational Safety and Health Administration: http://www.osha.gov 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce on ergonomics standards: http://www.uschamber.org/—Political+Advocacy/This+Week/—Face+Off.htm 

National Association of Manufacturers on ergonomics: http://www.nam.org/tertiary.asp?TrackID&CategoryID4&DocumentID226 34 

AFL-CIO: http://www.aflcio.org/home.htm