Obama Admin Blocks Two Workplace Safety Regulations

[SHRED]

Damn it.
:argh:


Pleasing Big Business, Obama Admin Blocks Two Workplace Safety Regulations
Thursday
Feb 3, 2011
1:28 pm
By Mike Elk

Last month, President Obama wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for “a government-wide review of the rules already on the books to remove outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive.”

The announcement by Obama to eliminate burdensome regulation was seen as dramatic tilt to the right for the White House, which is increasingly pro-business. Others, though, dismissed the move as mere posturing that would not seriously affect workers. But since calling for the regulatory review, the Obama Administration has done away with several proposed workplace safety regulations that have upset worker safety advocates.

Earlier this week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it was delaying (or stopping, as many advocates claimed) implementation of a set of proposed regulations on ergonomics. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders remain the leading cause of workplace injury and illness in this country,” stated OSHA Chief Dr. David Michaels in a press release. “However, it is clear that the proposal has raised concern among small businesses, so OSHA is facilitating an active dialogue between the agency and the small business community.”

The proposed regulation would have forced firms to count ergonomic injuries—also known as musculoskeletal disorder injuries (MSDs)—in statistics provided to OSHA . The push to count ergonomic injuries as part of workplace injury statistics was considered to be the compromise over regulating ergonomic injuries more broadly. Advocates had tried to bring tougher Clinton-era workplace safety laws, but settled on merely counting the MSD injuries. As it turned out, they didn't even get that.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6913/after_obama_executive_order_big_business_stops_two_workplace_safety_re/

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[Newest Reality]

1. That will solve ... something?

So, the basic new model is to keep tossing more ransom to the hostage takers, now?

Corporate rule seems to be a game where we feed obese pigs our own dinner in order to make them even fatter. The multi-nationals are sitting on tons of cash and many are in profit mode while some are having windfalls again. Why not compensate them more and give-in to their demands, ey?

Not only are the jobs continuing to go overseas where more "lucrative" markets are growing for profit-takers, but automation, (which is oddly not mentioned much) is increasing as another cost-cutting measure.

I wish I would have been born a corporation because, in this country, it means you have more rights and wealth and your government really represents you and your needs.

[TacticalPeek]

2. "was considered to be the compromise"

Obama plays the compromise game like a world class chump.