OSHA Reform: "Partnership" with Employers (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Jan. 12, 2001 |
| Report Number |
IB10042 |
| Authors |
Edward B. Rappaport, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration has occasioned controversyever since its inception in 1971, both for beingtoo strict with employers and not being strictenough. In the last few years most of theOSHA reform bills in the Congress have beenpresented as a response to the complaints ofsmall business. The common theme is to shiftthe agency away from levying fines and towardcooperatively working with employers to solveproblems.The most prominent of the bills in the106th Congress aimed at fundamentally changing safety regulation was the SAFE Act(Safety Advancement for Employees Act, inrelated but not identical versions as H.R.1427/S. 385). The centerpiece was a programunder which employers could contract withprivate-sector consultants and, if complyingwith their recommendations, be exempt fromOSHA civil penalties for the following year.(S. 385 was reported by committee on April29, 1999.)
