Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on legislation to modernize workplace health and safety penalties. According to a November 2009 report from the GAO, America's workers suffer more workplace injury and illness than employers report.
Enforcement under OSHA has become a major priority for the Obama administration. The The Protecting America's Workers Act (H.R. 2067), introduced by U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D- CA), would strengthen and modernize the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Change to Win health & safety coordinator Eric Frumin, who will be testifying tomorrow at the hearing, has noted in the past that "there appears to be a growing pattern of large corporations ignoring or avoiding their obligations to assure a safe workplace." Frumin is in favor of expanding investigatory capacity, company reporting requirements, and stronger criminal sanctions. "Congress should act now on the Protecting America's Workers Act," he said.
Also testifying: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Jonathan Snare, a partner Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, will also be testifying on behalf of the corporate front group.Although it's impossible to know for sure what Snare will have to say on the Chamber's behalf, they've been very against H.R. 2067 in the past, saying last year that it "often targets conscientious employers who report even minor workplace related injuries."
Watch the hearing live: This hearing will be webcast LIVE from the Education and Labor Committee website--tune in at 10:00 a.m. by clicking here.
