Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Lawmakers: OSHA Criminal, Civil Penalties “Weak and Ineffective”

www.occupationalhazards.com

In an April 29 Senate hearing, congressional lawmakers described OSHA as being “dangerously ineffective” in protecting workers, and claimed the agency's civil and criminal penalties in workplace fatality cases are too weak and fail to deter company violations.

During the hearing, held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., called for Congress to strengthen current workplace safety laws, strengthen provisions for higher penalties and criminal prosecution and insist on stronger OSHA enforcement.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, created 37 years ago and signed into law by President Richard Nixon, successfully helped reduce workplace accidents and fatalities. Legislators and labor leaders argue that in recent years, however, OSHA has exercised lax oversight, causing workplace safety to suffer.

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