Senate
Pushes for Reform in OSHA Penalties for Workplace
Fatalities
[Posted 05/02/2008]
on April 29, the US Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Committee heard testimony in support of a bill that
would impose higher penalties and possible criminal
charges for workplace fatalities.
The
Protecting America’s Workers Act (H.R. 2049 and
S.1244) was introduced in the House and Senate in
April 2007 to amend the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970. Testimony at the 2008 Senate
hearing rallied behind provisions of the act that
increase penalties for serious employer violations.
Among other changes, the new
bill:
-
allows felony charges for
employers who repeatedly and willfully violate
OSHA standards that result in a worker’s death or
serious injury;
-
updates civil penalties
from the amounts set in1990, with a minimum of
$50,000 for a worker’s death caused by willful
violation; and
-
mandates the Department of
Labor to investigate all cases of death or
serious injury.
Peg
Seminario, Director Safety and Health, AFL-CIO
concluded her testimony by stating “The
Occupational Safety and Health Act must be
strengthened to provide for strong, meaningful
enforcement that will deter violations and serve as
an incentive to improve conditions and protect
workers from harm.”
Related Links:
Occupational Health & Safety Report
New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
American Bakers Association
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