Worker Safety Regulations Dramatically Loosened Under Bush Admin.

News:
Under the Bush administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued the fewest significant standards in its history, public health experts say, a trend they credit to the administration’s habit – by now familiar – of appointing former industry officials and lobbyists to regulatory posts. Since Bush took office, OSHA has imposed only one major safety rule, while the only significant health standard it issued was ordered by a federal court. At the same time, the agency has killed dozens of existing and proposed regulations and delayed adopting others.

Injury and Illness occurences dropping...

Isn't that the point of the program? http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/ossm0013.pdf
See Table 2.
4,700,600 recordable cases in 2002
http://www.bls.gov/iif/
4,214,200 recordable cases in 2005
I mean, that's almost 500 THOUSAND less work-related injuries and illnesses. I can't find the 2006 info.

http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_num...
Year Annual
2003 4365.2
2004 4257.3
2005 4214.2 (Thousand injuries or illnesses)

I know what the response will be, "The numbers are all lies!"
As far as the issue of the "popcorn fumes," did the workers wear masks or respirators? Anytime I have worked in a dusty place the employer has provided me with one or the other.
As far as the noise threat...what?!? "Construction site noise as health hazards." Are there no earplugs?
Silica dust-wear a mask. These problems aren't very hard to address without more stupid laws.

By harrisbApril 25, 2007 - 2:33pm