A Republican congressman just introduced a bill to abolish OSHA and get rid of federal safety protections for workers

I used to work for OSHA as a contractor. I talked to people who lost their businesses because of OSHA fines stemming from relatively insignificant and easily correctable violations. They didn't have to go that way, OSHA started as an educational thing. If they stayed there, they could still be relevant. 50 years in, most of this stuff is common sense. There are still industrial accidents and people need to be held accountable, but they have to work with industry, not against them.
At one point in the past, OSHA was a relevant and needed thing. Today, they're just making new regulations to make regulations. For example, at one point with the Navy, I had to get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, label the bucket with a laminated label with warnings and instructions per OSHA, and attach a roll of electrical tape next to the bucket. This bucket was for disposing of used batteries.

In addition, I had hold battery disposal training for the entire shop and document that they were all properly trained in battery disposal.

Talk about a pedantic stupidity. The whole shop used few batteries to begin with and the bucket remained almost empty the whole time I ran the shop. We never changed the bucket because it never got full. But during our annual OSHA inspection, the inspector checked off that we had that bucket.
 
You never did post who sponsored the bill, Sybil. However I wll.

The bill to abolish OSHA is being sponsored by Andy Biggs, a Republican Representative from Arizona.

I happen to agree with it. Abolish OSHA. Safety is best handled by the worker and his employer.
Actually, I can see OSHA or the similar MSHA being a necessity as employers did neglect safety to a serious degree. For example, in the first two years the US was in WW 2, more people were seriously injured or died from industrial accidents than in combat worldwide. It was literally more dangerous to be a factory worker than a soldier in the army.

That sort of thing calls for common sense regulations and oversight. The problem comes when the bureaucrats and regulators adopt a "zero tolerance" mentality towards safety. That is, ALL injuries, deaths, and accidents MUST be eliminated. Then the crazy starts. So long as there's someone keeping the regulators on a very short, tight, leash, things can be made reasonably safe where the costs of safety don't become prohibitive.
 
The Republicans are determined to destroy the entire Federal government to the point where we don't need Congress anymore. President Musk will do all of our government for us.

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The Republicans are determined to destroy the entire Federal government to the point where we don't need Congress anymore. President Musk will do all of our government for us.

9j3wp9.jpg
Whoever has been running Washington, and it most certainly is not the people we elect, is my greatest enemy.
 
Do you remember how Obama betrayed just about everything he said on the trail on day one, just like Zelenski?

You might wonder how that happens.
 
Actually, I can see OSHA or the similar MSHA being a necessity as employers did neglect safety to a serious degree. For example, in the first two years the US was in WW 2, more people were seriously injured or died from industrial accidents than in combat worldwide. It was literally more dangerous to be a factory worker than a soldier in the army.
It is more dangerous just wandering your home. Factories generally don't leave toys and stuff to trip over, and are better built than homes are.

The 1st line of safety is the worker himself. He has the best interest in his own welfare than anyone else. If a factory is dangerous, he should leave and find a safer place to work.
That sort of thing calls for common sense regulations and oversight.
...such as?
The problem comes when the bureaucrats and regulators adopt a "zero tolerance" mentality towards safety.
Which is really not obtainable. The safest factory is a closed one.
That is, ALL injuries, deaths, and accidents MUST be eliminated. Then the crazy starts. So long as there's someone keeping the regulators on a very short, tight, leash, things can be made reasonably safe where the costs of safety don't become prohibitive.
Mike Rowe feels the same way for the same reasons. So do I. You even pointed this out, so I assume you also agree with his arguments.
Safety is primarily the responsibility of the worker. Education on safe practices are easily the responsibility of the employer. It's not OSHA that makes anything safer. It's lawsuits and self awareness.

Now let's look at a 'common sense' regulation (actually a building code) that helps to keep people safe. NFPA 70, otherwise known as the National Electric Code.

This code is developed by electricians and firemen. In other words, a committee made up of people in your industry. This is not developed by OSHA or the government. Governments, however, will turn to it as a regulation because it's so effective.

Similar codes are developed for handling and manufacturing explosives, including fireworks, including close proximity fireworks such as used in rock concerts and movie sets. Those are developed by pyrotechnicians and firemen. Again, developed by the industry, not government.

Say a factory leaves a safety guard removed on a piece of machinery. If an accident occurs, that can result in a hefty lawsuit. OSHA isn't even needed here. Factories have a financial incentive to create and maintain a reasonably safe workspace.

OSHA is not needed and is not effective at improving safety.
 
I am sure OSHA is on president Musks chopping block. They protect workers and make work places safer to enter.
OSHA does not protect anyone.
Musk and Trump do not care about such people. What OSHA does. https://safetyculture.com/topics/osha-standards/
No, OSHA cannot take credit for building codes, Sybil.
You guys keep arguing to give more power to the ownership society. The plutocracy is here and you like it.
Ownership is good. It is not plutocracy. What Democrats WANT is plutocracy in the form of fascism. It is DEMOCRATS that want 'The Elite', Sybil.
 
OSHA has some really stupid rules that need changed.
Although, safety should be a concern for industries and
their workers. The workers themselves should also know
what safety issues should be addressed and should work
with the companies to address them. That benefits both
the workers and companies, and reduces worker injuries.
 
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