OSHA Penalties: Proposed Reforms of Appeal Procedures (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
July 8, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RS21843 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Edward Rappaport, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Several bills sponsored by the chairman of the House Subcommittee on WorkforceProtections (Mr. Norwood) are aimed at augmenting the ability of employers to defendthemselves against penalties proposed by the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA), as well as improving the functioning of the commission thathears appeals of those penalties. H.R. 742 would provide new opportunities for smallbusinesses to recoup their legal defense costs. H.R. 739 would provide flexibility in thetime deadline for making appeals. H.R. 740 would expand the review commission fromthree to five seats. H.R. 741 would instruct the courts to give due deference to thecommission's specialized expertise. The bills were approved by the Committee onEducation and the Workforce in April 2005.
