Government Affairs Blog

Seems there are a few OSHA Outreach Training Program trainers who aren't very qualified to teach workplace safety, as well as the fact that there are some who are simply selling their completion certificates. OSHA last week announced they were strengthening their review of the 16,000 independent trainers to "keep a list" of those who have had their training credentials suspended or discontinued. Now, that sounds like a good idea, but perhaps they should simply go back to the drawing board and take a look at how these "trainers" are chosen in the first place. I recieved a letter from one AIHA member who says most CIHs and CSPs have more knowledge than these individuals, yet OSHA doesn't provide any credit for their knowledge and education. While it may be difficult for OSHA to change the progrma at this tage, I believe they should at elast take a look at the credentials of these individuals and determine whether or not there is a better way of ding things.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 08:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

David Michaels has been officially nominated to be the next Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. When he will be confirmed is anyone's guess. However, let's hope it comes as soon as possible so the agency can work on many of the issues that need to be finalized. What will be the agenda for Mr. Michaels? Hard to say at this point in time but early word is that he will push for a new recordkeeping program, an injury and illness program, increasing training grants, and work to change the way the nation thinks about workplace safety. All very good goals. However, if OSHA is to continue to regain some of its credibility, we need to see some concrete results on some of the many issues that have been on the table for years - GHS, cranes and derricks, confined spaces in construction, silica, beryllium, etc. And let's not forget updating the PELs. Mr. Michaels has said in the past he believes working to update the PELs is not a good use of OSHA resources. If that is truly how he feels, let's hope he has some alternatives in mind. He will have a "honeymoon" period when he takes over, but it won't last long unelss we get the feeling that he can move the agenda forward. Let's also hope that early critics give Mr. Michaels a chance.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 07:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Secretary of Labor and Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA recently spoke at the ASSE conference - detailing that OSHA is back in the enforcement business. Good news or bad news? From my perspective it is great to see the agency have a proactive agenda that goes after bad actors, and an agenda that signifies a push to enact long-awaited standards that need to be finalized. However - let's all wait and see what happens with this agenda before we get too carried away. It is a positive sign the agency has increased penalties on their own - without Congressional action. And it's great to see them send signals that we have a lot of work to do. But again, reality will set in sooner or later and the agency will come to realize it is easier said than done as far as moving standards forward. But the signals they sent last week are very positive. I'm one willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and offer my support for their efforts.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

AIHA is preparing to launch another effort to see if we can find a new process to "update the PELs". But such an effort will only work if we have the "buy-in" of OSHA and the Administration. This remains to be seen. While we have received "off-the-record" support from OSHA that they may even be willing to have a non-voting representative on the working group, I'm a little concerned about what might happen when we have a permanent Asistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. If the rumor is correct that David Michaels will probably be named the Assistant Secretary, it raises some interesting questions. Mr. Michaels has written that "successive OSHA administrators have simply recognized that establishing new standards is so time and labor-intensive, and will inevitably call forth such orchestrated opposition from industry, that it is not worth expending the agency's limited resources on the issue". Let's hope this is just his opinion on previous efforts at OSHA and are not his view of what he may or may do with the issue. Sure hope this question is raised at any confirmation hearing.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

AIHA received a letter from Acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA Jordan Barab in response to our request to lower the PEL for occupational exposure to noise. While Mr. Barab "shares our concerns" about this issue, he essentially told AIHA we must wait for a permanent Assistant Secretary to be put in place before any decisions on standards are made. Let's hope this is not a delaying tactic and that when a new Assistant Secretary is in place this is one of the issues he/she addresses. AIHA first contacted OSHA two years ago requesitng the same thing. Hard to tell how this delay has impacted workers. Problem is, if OSHA does address the issue, it is likely there will be opposition and the delay will continue.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's probably like speaking to a brick wall, but how about the leadership at OSHA reach out to industry and the professional associations and invite them to a summit with labor to discuss areas where perhaps they might all agree to get something done regarding worker health and safety. It's great that the new administration talks about "bi-partisanship", but let's see if it works. OSHA might be a good place to start! We see OSHA moving forward on many issues (that's great news and they deserve credit), but we also see conflicting statements about VPP and some quotes from potential leaders that "industry can't be trusted". If they really want to protect workers, it's going to take the support of both labor and industry, not what we have seen in the past.

Perhaps someone could just give it a try!

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay, OSHA has published its semi-annual regulatory agenda. This agenda contains many more items than those from the last two years. And if you recall, labor and many others compained that the previous agenda lacked any important issues and showed little interest in the issues. Now - let's see what happens with this agenda. I do agree that previous agendas were very limited and now the new administration has its chance to show it can move more issues. The proof will come in the next six months as we wait and see exactly what happens. But let's hope everyone understands that if this administration also lacks the means to move the agenda that the same groups complaining when the agenda was short also complain that the new agenda was not successful. Should be an interesting six months.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't get me wrong. I am totally supportive of holding Congressional hearings to discuss issues of importance. But I'm gettign a little tired of hearings being held to simply provide PR for the Committee Chair or others who want to "look good". This week we have three separate hearings to discuss OSHA. One on victims, one on ehanced enforcement and one on penalties - all important issues to be sure. But waht will come of these hearings? I'm willing to bet that not much will happen. But I guess just airing the problems is supposed to be enough

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't know about you, but I'm beginning to have some concern about who will be the next leader at OSHA. Not worried so much that it could yet take several months; rather the fact that the latest names floating around seem to be those with little "hands-on" experience with OH&S. You would think labor and industry would both agree that if we are to get anything accomplished at this agency it will take someone who understands OH&S, not just politics. I will still give the administration the benefit of the doubt until someone is nominated, but let's hope they pick someone who knows what is going on. Oh yeah, one other thing - you would think the administration might take a few minutes to call the professional OH&S associations to find out what they think about the leadership position. We already know what labor and industry think.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are those who consider the withdrawal of the ANPR on diacetyl a good thing. That is probably true! But what is frustrating is the fact that these individuals say the withdrawal will speed up the regulatory process on diacetyl by two years. Now that is frustrating!!!! In other words, what might have taken ten years will only take eight years? Wow, what a change!

It's about time we take a serious look at the entire regulatory process. The system is broken! Addressing a problem like diacetyl is only additional proof of this. Most manufacturers who were using the product have probably already stopped using it. By the time a standard on diacetyl is concluded no one will have ever heard of the product.

Good news to withdraw the ANPR? You bet! But it points to bigger problems.

Posted by Aaron Trippler at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)