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IMPROVING WORKPLACE SAFETY
Promoting Worker Safety and Fairness for Small Business; Oversight of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)

H.R. 1583, Occupational Safety and Health-Fairness Act
H.R. 2728, Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in Court Act
H.R. 2729, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act
H.R. 2730, Occupational Safety and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act
H.R. 2731, Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act

Sponsor: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA)

The Workforce Protections Subcommittee, led by Chairman Charlie Norwood (R-GA), held a series of hearings during the last Congress on the strengths and weaknesses of Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) current rulemaking procedures and enforcement structure.  

OSHA regulations are among the most complex and difficult legal requirements imposed on employers today. For many employers, especially smaller employers, compliance with OSHA regulations is a challenge even with help from experts.  Republicans take the goals of promoting workplace safety and reducing workplace injuries and illness very seriously.  Any workplace injury or illness is one too many. 

It is important to recognize, however, that safe working conditions in this country are primarily the result of efforts by employers and employees, not arbitrary OSHA enforcement.  Many smaller worksites can make significant progress in reducing injuries and illnesses if OSHA lends a helping hand to these employers though cooperative partnerships. OSHA under the Bush Administration has made significant efforts to supplement traditional enforcement programs with cooperative partnerships.

In order to build on these efforts, the Subcommittee has approved three OSHA reform measures to enhance fairness for employers, especially small businesses, by giving them new tools to defend themselves against OSHA citations they believe are unjustified.

Issue Summary: Improving Workplace Safety

Press Statements:

• Workforce Committee Republicans Praise Outgoing OSHA Administrator for Improving Workplace Safety - December 9, 2004
• House Passes Four OSHA Reform Bills to Improve Worker Safety, Promote Fairness for Small Businesses, Encourage Job Creation - May 18, 2004
• Committee Approves Four OSHA Reform Bills to Promote Fairness for Small Businesses, Improve Worker Safety, Competition, Job Creation - May 5, 2004
• Workforce Committee Republicans Highlight New GAO Report Citing the Success of OSHA Voluntary Programs in Reducing Workplace Injuries - March 29, 2004
• Citing Questionable OSHA Enforcement Actions, Witnesses Support Norwood Bill to Enhance Fairness for Small Employers - September 17, 2003
• Subcommittee Approves Three Norwood Bills to Enhance Worker Safety, Promote Fairness for Small Businesses - July 24, 2003
• Norwood Bill Would Protect Small Businesses, Ensure Fairness in Workplace Safety Enforcement, Witness Testify - June 17, 2003
• Norwood Introduces Bill to Shield Small Businesses Against Unjustified OSHA Penalties - April 3, 2003
• Norwood, Boehner Praise New Ergonomics Guidelines Announced by the Labor Department - March 13, 2003

Fact Sheets:

• Enhancing Worker Safety, Promoting Fairness for Small Businesses, Encouraging Job Creation - May 20, 2004
• OSHA Reform Bills Improve Worker Safety, Enhance Competitiveness, Foster Job Creation for Small Businesses - May 14, 2004
• Three Norwood OSHA Bills Enhance Worker Safety, Promote Fairness for Small Businesses -- July 24, 2003
• Norwood OSHA Fairness Bill Protects Small Businesses from Arbitrary and Unjustified Penalties -- June 17, 2003
• Workplace Safety: Targeted Enforcement & Voluntary Compliance Achieves Results -- April 24, 2003

Bill Summary:

• Four OSHA Bills Promote Fairness for Small Businesses, Improve Worker Safety, Competition, Job Creation - May 14, 2004 (Includes summaries of H.R. 2728, H.R. 2729, H.R. 2730, and H.R. 2731)

Dear Colleague Letters:

• Organizations Supporting Common Sense OSHA Reforms - May 18, 2004
• Setting the Record Straight on Common Sense OSHA Reforms - May 18, 2004
• OSHA Reform Measures Improve Worker Safety, Enhance Competitiveness, Foster Job Creation for Small Businesses - May 17, 2004

Charts:

• Voluntary Programs REDUCE Worker Injuries (pdf)
• Voluntary Programs REDUCE Worker Fatalities (pdf)

Committee Hearings and Markups:

• On May 5, 2004, the Committee on Education & the Workforce held a markup and approved the following four bills:

  • H.R. 2728, Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in Court Act of 2003 was ordered favorably reported, as amended by a vote of 24-20 -- Opening Statements and Markup Information.

  • H.R. 2729, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2003 was ordered favorably reported, as amended by a vote of 24-20 -- Opening Statements and Markup Information.

  • H.R. 2730, Occupational Safety and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act of 2003 was ordered favorably reported, as amended by a vote of 24-20 -- Opening Statements and Markup Information.

  • H.R. 2731, Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of 2003 was ordered favorably reported, as amended by a vote of 24-20 -- Opening Statements and Markup Information.

• On September 17, 2003, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on “H.R. 2731, Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of 2003” -- Opening Statements and Witness Testimony

• On July 24, 2003, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a markup and approved the following 3 bills:
  • H.R. 2728, "Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in Court Act of 2003" -- Opening Statements and Markup Information
  • H.R. 2729, "Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2003" -- Opening Statements and Markup Information
  • H.R. 2730, "Occupational Safety and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act of 2003" -- Opening Statements and Markup Information

• On June 17, 2003, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on "H.R. 1583, Occupational Safety and Health-Fairness Act of 2003" -- Opening Statements and Witness Testimony