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Monday, May 05, 2008
New Rules To Control Explosive Dust May Be Required
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives voted 247-165 to require OSHA to adopt rules to control explosive dust in factories (HR 5522). There was also a vote that would have delay the requirement for new OSHA rules until the investigation into an explosion at a Georgia sugar refiner is finished, That was defeated by a vote of 178-237.
If passed into law the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), based on information provided by OSHA and other safety analysts, estimates that implementing H.R. 5522 would cost $1 million in fiscal year 2009 and $41 million over the 2009-2013 period. These costs consist of $1 million in 2009 for economic and feasibility studies to support the development of the final standard, and $10 million a year—about a five percent increase in OSHA's enforcement workload—beginning in 2010 for enforcement of the final standard. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues or direct spending.
This estimate does not includes state or private industry costs.
The bill will now go to the Senate. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), last week urged Members of the Committee to "think outside the box" to establish effective, innovative strategies to enhance workplace safety and prevent on-the-job injuries and fatalities. "No penalty can make up for the loss of a loved one," Enzi said.
Enzi noted several workplace safety programs that have been proven to be effective, including the Voluntary Protection Programs, workplace drug-testing, and Workplace Compensation Insurance strategies, which vary from state to state.
"These programs have been able to make workplaces safer and even save money," Enzi said. "Let's take a look at the best practices out there and determine how these programs can be translated to the federal level."
If passed into law the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), based on information provided by OSHA and other safety analysts, estimates that implementing H.R. 5522 would cost $1 million in fiscal year 2009 and $41 million over the 2009-2013 period. These costs consist of $1 million in 2009 for economic and feasibility studies to support the development of the final standard, and $10 million a year—about a five percent increase in OSHA's enforcement workload—beginning in 2010 for enforcement of the final standard. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues or direct spending.
This estimate does not includes state or private industry costs.
The bill will now go to the Senate. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), last week urged Members of the Committee to "think outside the box" to establish effective, innovative strategies to enhance workplace safety and prevent on-the-job injuries and fatalities. "No penalty can make up for the loss of a loved one," Enzi said.
Enzi noted several workplace safety programs that have been proven to be effective, including the Voluntary Protection Programs, workplace drug-testing, and Workplace Compensation Insurance strategies, which vary from state to state.
"These programs have been able to make workplaces safer and even save money," Enzi said. "Let's take a look at the best practices out there and determine how these programs can be translated to the federal level."
Labels: osha information, safety politics
posted by Steve Hudgik |
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