Bush ADministration's OSHA is AWOL

[elehhhhna]

March 19, 2007, 12:45AM
OSHA scarce at area plants

By ANNE BELLI
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Federal regulators responsible for ensuring worker safety have not conducted planned inspections of the vast majority of area petroleum refineries over the last five years — including the BP Texas City plant where 15 people were killed two years ago, a Houston Chronicle review of federal records shows.

Instead, inspections by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration of local refineries have been conducted only sporadically — sometimes after years of no visits by inspectors at all. And the few inspections that have been conducted all came after a complaint, referral or accident, records show.

When federal investigators this week release their final report on the causes of the BP explosion, OSHA may be sharing the hot seat with the oil giant.

At issue is whether the 37-year-old agency has provided adequate oversight of the refining industry.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4641880.html

[Divernan]

1. This is unfortunately not a new (W administration) development

When one of my kids (during her college years) worked part-time at the local dry cleaners (back in the 80's), the business violated all kinds of safety regs, including exposing their employees to dangerous chemicals/fumes. When OSHA did "inspect" the operation, it was after a week or so advance notice, during which time the owner temporarily fixed all the violations. There was one particularly docile employee who would be called on to clean up chemical spills. These chemicals would quickly eat through her extra-thick rubber gloves. Plus she was inhaling these concentrated fumes (benzene, as I recall). When my kid told me about what was going on, I had her quit and find other temporary work.