We Must Have Greater Workplace Safety Standards
The following is a press release from July 24, 2003, by Kucinich's office in Congress
***
Kucinich: We Must Have Greater Workplace Safety Standards
Today, at a meeting of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich addressed the critical issue of workplace safety.
Kucinich stated:
"I'm pleased to have the chance this morning to address the critical issue of workplace safety. I think it's important in this mark-up that we run down some basic points on workplace safety in America while we consider these bills. Here are the facts:
"Last year 5,900 were killed on the job because of traumatic injuries. Last year 56,000 workers died from occupational diseases. And last year over 6 million workers were injured or fell ill on the job.
"For some perspective, approximately 56,000 Americans died between 1958 and 1975 in the Vietnam War. The American workplace leads to the same number of deaths in one year.
"There are approximately 30,000 people who work on Capitol Hill. If each person on Capitol Hill were injured on the job every day for about 7 months, this would equal the total number of work injuries each year.
"With this in the background, I'm frankly mystified why our subcommittee is today spending time debating three bills that will protect a total of zero additional workers if enacted. In fact, it appears that instead of protecting the American workforce, the Administration is attempting to do what it can to weaken OSHA, the main law we have to protect workers.
"Between FY 1999 and FY 2002, the number of employees covered by federal OSHA inspections decreased by nearly 20 percent. The average number of hours spent per inspection also decreased from 22 to 19.1 hours for safety inspections and from 40 to 32.7 hours per health inspection. The number of citations for willful violations decreased from 607 in 1999 to 392 in 2002. The average penalty for violation decreased by 19 percent, with the average penalty for willful violation decreasing by 25 percent. The penalties and number of citations have decreased, but the number of workplace deaths has not.
"The Administration has also withdrawn or plans to withdraw 23 OSHA standards slated for action from the regulatory agenda. Included in the cuts is the Tuberculosis Standard, which would have also protected health care workers from SARS. And of course, the President's first legislative action was to repeal OSHA's ergonomics standard that was in the works for ten years.
"Instead, today we have a bill that would excuse employers who miss the 15-day timeframe to contest an OSHA citation. The point of this timeframe is to ensure that cited hazards will be addressed as quickly as possible. How many added workers will be protected by this measure? Zero.
"Today we also have a bill that would expand the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission from 3 to 5 members. How many added workers will be protected by this measure? Zero.
"And today we have a bill to give deference to the Commission over the Secretary of Labor in the resolution of disputes. How many added workers will be protected by this measure? Zero.
"I would argue that the over 6 million workers who were injured on the job last year are waiting for greater worker protections. But for the 56,000 workers who died last year from occupational illnesses -- it's already too late. We should not be wasting our time on bills that will not protect workers, and instead give employers more time to NOT fix workplace hazards. I urge my colleagues to vote against the three measures presented today."
Subscribe to this blog's feed