U.S. Chamber of Commerce - November 18 - U.S. Chamber Supports Senate OSHA Reform Measures

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce announced its support for three Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reform bills introduced by Senator Mike Enzi that would improve the way the agency interacts with employers, especially small businesses.

“OSHA can help businesses improve workplace safety by being a better resource, and not just being a safety cop,” said Randel K. Johnson, vice president for labor, immigration, and employee benefits. “If implemented, these bills would make OSHA and businesses better partners in creating a safe working environment for employees.”

The Occupational Safety Partnership Act (S. 2065) gives employers an incentive to use independent safety consultants to conduct inspections and assist in fixing workplace safety problems. The bill also improves on earlier efforts to protect audit reports generated by such inspections.

The Occupational Safety Fairness Act (S. 2066) includes provisions from four bills that the House passed with bipartisan support on July 12. The Act would make it easier for small businesses to challenge OSHA citations if they believe their case is warranted, including making it possible for them to recover their attorneys’ fees if the case is decided in their favor. The bill would also give employers the right to correct a violation within 72 hours before a citation could be issued.

The HazCom Simplification and Modernization Act (S. 2067) would direct OSHA to develop model safety data sheets which would improve the communication of safety information used by employers to protect their employees. This bill would also establish a commission to determine how best to implement the system of chemical labeling endorsed by the United Nations.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.