Do we need OSHA?
What say you?
Representative Andy Biggs R AZ introduced HR 86 on, February 2nd; the bill would abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a Department of Labor agency tasked with overseeing workplace safety. A copy of the bill is provided below.
Biggs stated OSHA's role can better be done by "state governments and private employers."
Many readers are focused on the workers’ comp industry and I’m sure have thoughts.
Let me know what you think. All responses are anonymous.
When I read OSHA violations in the news, they are usually gross violations of basic safety procedures such as an open trench without reenforcement or workers operating at heights without proper harness equipment. Smaller businesses often complaint about regulation yet seem to have more violations than Fortune 500 firms. Safety will disappear for most workers without OSHA.
The only time employers or most states get interested in safety is when premiums are skyrocketing. the last time safety was a part of the Workers' Compensation industry was in the late 80's and early nineties. With out osha injuries would increase dramatically over the next several years.