Summary: GAO checked on the safety and health protections afforded workers at the Government Printing Office (GPO) and four Capitol Hill offices--those of the Architect of the Capitol, the Attending Physician, the House Clerk, and the House Doorkeeper. The serious hazards GAO discovered included improper placement of automatic sprinklers, unenforced protections concerning excessive noise levels, exposed blades on power saws and machines, poor ventilation in areas where flammable materials were being used, and missing or improper labels on chemicals. Congressional employees are not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the job of ensuring workplace safety and health is spread among several offices. The legislation does cover employees of legislative branch agencies, such as GPO, which are required to have a comprehensive safety and health program. Even so, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has no authority to examine the effectiveness of programs in the legislative and judicial branches or to inspect their workplaces.
