IH Community Applauds OSHA, Obama for Worker Protection Proposals
The American Industrial Hygiene Association said it commends the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on its recent decision to implement a multi-tiered enforcement program to ensure worker protection on projects related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Early in the year, the Obama Administration proposed creating more than one million new construction and manufacturing jobs. In response, AIHA urged both President Obama and Labor Secretary Solis to ensure that the new jobs created by the stimulus package had adequate workplace protections for these workers. One specific issue AIHA stressed was the need for additional OSHA personnel to work solely on the new job creation projects.
Solis subsequently announced that OSHA will strengthen enforcement by hiring an additional 36 inspectors to provide guidance training and outreach to employers and workers and by launching a new effort to collect information about injuries and illnesses in the construction industry.
AIHA said it applauds Obama and Solis for listening to those who serve on the front line of worker health and safety each day and for putting the well-being of America's labor force first. AIHA's 10,460 members represent a cross-section of industry, private business, labor, government, and academia.