OSHA: An agency that is ripe for an overhaul

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/nov/30/osha-agency-ripe-overhaul/

Lawmakers should get past politics and take occupational health and safety seriously

Sun, Nov 30, 2008 (2:04 a.m.)

In the recent construction boom on the Las Vegas Strip, 12 workers were killed in industrial accidents during a 19-month period. The deaths highlighted a serious problem in the nation’s workplace health and safety laws and regulations.

The Las Vegas Sun’s editorial board worked for several months to investigate the issue, conducting in-depth interviews with a wide range of experts and reviewing thousands of pages of documents. These included congressional transcripts from the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, scientific studies, reports, publications and historic documents dating to the late 1800s.

The result is a five-part series of editorials that explores the problems with, and potential fixes to, America’s worker safety system.

Congress held emotionally charged hearings this year in the wake of the rash of construction deaths on the Las Vegas Strip and the series of crane failures in New York City.

Democrats and labor leaders excoriated the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency commissioned to protect workers. They called for changes in the agency and improved regulations.

Republicans and business leaders tried to downplay any connection between government oversight and the tragedies. They said new regulations would be burdensome to small business and cost too much money.

FULL story at link.

[elleng]

1. Related to D of Labor, isn't it?

One of the agencies that's HIGHLY subject to political manipulation.

[valerief]

2. This says it all.

<<Republicans and business leaders tried to downplay any connection between government oversight and the tragedies. They said new regulations would be burdensome to small business and cost too much money.>>

This can be paraphrased to "let 'em die!"

:grr: