The Charlotte Observer published an op-ed by Chairman Miller on the 20th anniversary of Workers Memorial Day about the importance of reinvigorating OSHA.
Chairman Miller said:
And be sure to check our two hearings this week: Are OSHA’s Penalties Adequate to Deter Health and Safety Violations? and Improving OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program
Chairman Miller said:
Nearly 40 years ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted to protect workers against these very abuses. The law has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and helped millions more avoid exposure to preventable illnesses and injuries.What will it take to turn this around?
But the law's protections have eroded in recent decades – especially over the past eight years. All too often, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's leadership failed to adequately protect workers from well-documented workplace threats – from exposure to a chemical that causes popcorn lung disease to combustible dust to dangers on construction sites....
This neglect has left OSHA significantly weakened and put workers in greater jeopardy.
It begins with good leadership that's committed to restoring OSHA's mission. President Obama's Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis, is a passionate advocate for working families and she's determined to reverse the harmful damage wrought during the Bush years. But good leadership only goes so far – we also need to give her additional tools to effectively enforce the law.We encourage you to read the entire op-ed. If you want to learn more about worker safety and health, click here.
Last week, I joined other Democrats in introducing the Protecting America's Workers Act, legislation that would modernize current law by updating its penalties, strengthening whistleblower protections and ensuring that bad employers are held accountable. It will allow OSHA to finally do its job – and it is a critical start toward improving the safety of our workplaces.
This week the Education and Labor Committee will hold hearings to examine how OSHA can toughen penalties and impose effective enforcement. Penalties haven't been updated since 1990 and aren't indexed for inflation. Unscrupulous CEOs often face nothing more than a drop in the bucket for egregious violations.
And be sure to check our two hearings this week: Are OSHA’s Penalties Adequate to Deter Health and Safety Violations? and Improving OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program
