Fight for safe jobs, Healthy workplaces
WHEN IT COMES TO JOB safety and health protection for workers, many employers and their anti-worker
congressional allies are in denial about the dangers of
the workplace. They consider OSHA regulations to be
unnecessary, burdensome and costly. But costly to whom?
To the employers or to the more than 60,000 workers who
die from job injuries and illnesses each year? Or the
other 6 million who are injured?
Here are some of the recent attempts to roll back health
and safety protection:
- Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) has introduced H.R. 1192 to
strip OSHA of its power to inspect workplaces and issue
penalties.
- Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) has introduced a new version of his Safety for Employees Advancement Act, the so-called
"SAFE Act" (S.385). This "SAFE" legislations would:
- Immunize employers from OSHA penalities if they set
up a safety and health program and are certified by an
employer-paid consultant to be in compliance.
- Take away workers' rights to on-site OSHA inspections
to investigate serious hazards.
- Permit OSHA to issue warnings instead of citing for
violations.
- Override OSHA standards by permitting employers to
use any alternative methods they deem effective to
protect workers.
- Anti-worker legislators are also pushing "regulatory
reform" legislation that will make it more difficult for
OSHA and other agencies to set and enforce standards.
But there are also pro-active safety bills that Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) has introduced. Senate bill 650
would extend OSHA coverage to federal, state and local
government employees; S. 651 would increase prison terms
and fines for employers who willfully endanger the health
and safety of their workers; and S. 652 would strengthen
whistle-blower protection for workers who file OSHA
complaints.
Taking action at your local:
Contact your elected representatives about the above
pieces of legislation through the Capitol switchboard:
1-877-722-7494. Or write to them. Your voice does make a difference!
The PACESetter, vol.1 no.2, April 1999