Bill targets fines by OSHA inspectors

Nation's Business, Dec, 1997 by Steve Bates

Bipartisan legislation introduced recently in the House and Senate would preclude the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration from imposing civil fines on U.S. businesses that have been certified by independent inspectors as being in compliance with federal workplace-safety standards.

OSHA still could inspect such businesses, and the agency would be responsible for approving the independent inspectors. The fine exemption would be in force for two years after certification; businesses would pay for their own inspections.

The Senate measure, S. 1237, and the companion House bill, H.R. 2579, attempt to alter the adversarial nature of the relationship between OSHA and employers. "This is a very strong step forward toward making OSHA a better agency and making the workplace safer," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., one of the proposal's backers, at a Sept. 30 news conference.

Final action on the measure is unlikely until 1998.