OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

Passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970 was a long step forward toward the goal of a safe and healthy workplace for every American worker. But we in the AFL-CIO knew that no law was going to save a single life or prevent a single accident if the intent of Congress was not translated into action in the shop and on the job.

When the law was passed, we served notice that the AFL-CIO would be watching over the government's shoulder to see that the Act wasn't watered down and that it wasn't allowed to wither away because of neglect or financial starvation.

We pledged to oversee the implementation of this vital law and to make our findings public. Labor's most recent findings are contained in the 13,000-word report on the administration ration of the law which accompanies this statement.

It is not pleasant reading. It is, we believe, constructive criticism, and we intend to present it to the Congress and the Administration in hopes of early correction of the inadequacies we have found.

We have also found that many businesses of all sizes have complied with the safety and health standards. And there is a new awareness of safety and health on the job throughout America.

Three points are obvious from the report:

1.  OSHA has not received sufficient funding to properly administer the law. President Ford's proposed fiscal 1976 budget for OSHA merely allows for increased inflation. It does not provide for expansion or strengthening of programs. It is grossly inadequate.

2.  The Nixon administration purposely watered down enforcement of the Act for political purposes and that watered-down standard of enforcement continues today.

3.  Safety and health standards are not promptly established as the law requires. Endless delays in the hearing process and the promulgation of effective standards, and the failure to properly enforce the few standards which have been promulgated literally cost workers their health and their very lives.

By the time that OSHA reaches its fifth anniversary this year we call upon the Congress to make good on the Act's promise of a safe and healthy workplace. This will require sufficient funds for at least 2,000 new compliance personnel, plus added personnel for standards development, hazard evaluation, statistical gathering, training, research, and adjudication of contested citations.

We call on the Congress to oppose all attempts to weaken the Act, including efforts to weaken standards which protect workers and efforts to deny coverage to employees of small businesses.

We urge the appropriate committees of Congress to continue their valuable oversight hearings on administration of the law.

Further, we urge the following amendments in the law:

• Extending coverage to all workers, including those employed by federal, state and local governments, in all workplaces.

• Establishment of full federal enforcement and the elimination of state participation in standards and state enforcement.

• Permitting compliance officers to issue on-the-spot orders prohibiting employees from working where there is an imminent danger.

• Placing the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Labor.

Requiring the payment of full pay for employee representatives for time spent with an inspector during an inspection.

The American Federation of Teachers pledges full support to the AFL-CIO in its effort to secure Congressional adoption of the five amendments proposed. The American Federation of Teachers further encourages an amendment assuring that a school room be also included as a safe workplace for all teachers and educational workers.