Thursday, October 29, 2009
Barab, Henshaw trade thoughts on occupational safety
Acting OSHA administrator Jordan Barab on Tuesday attempted to make the case for increased enforcement while former OSHA head John Henshaw advised against relying too heavily on penalties.
The two men shared the stage in Orlando, FL, during a keynote session on occupational safety and health issues at the National Safety Council's 2009 Congress & Expo.
Barab said OSHA's ultimate goal is to make workplaces safer and not simply issue citations, but is not satisfied with the current penalty structure and will be looking to see if revisions could create stronger disincentives for employers who cut corners. "We are a regulatory enforcement agency, first and foremost. Under the Obama administration, we are going to act like one," Barab said.
Henshaw agreed that "strong, fair and effective" enforcement was necessary, but said OSHA does not have enough investigators to rely on enforcement alone. "OSHA is not just a 'new sheriff in town,'" he said, referring to a phrase freqently used by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "It is a sheriff as well as an instigator or a creator of advancement around safety and health." Organizations should be encouraged to go beyond OSHA standards to achieve zero injuries, and the agency's partnerships, alliances and voluntary programs can help, Henshaw said.
Henshaw also voiced his support for an update to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, a safety and health programs standard, and for the creation of standards based on risk rather than the influence of "political winds." Barab, meanwhile, said OSHA will be looking to improve "antiquated" chemical standards, will conduct a survey of all State Plan states in light of the recent negative report on Nevada's program, and will examine how to minimize musculoskeletal injuries.