President’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request for U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Increases Federal Enforcement and Compliance Assistance Efforts

Source: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. today announced that President Bush has requested $501.7 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in fiscal year (FY) 2009. The request represents a boost of nearly $15.7 million over the fiscal year 2008 level.

Foulke explained that the increase will support agency efforts to improve workplace safety and health through compliance assistance and enforcement of occupational safety and health regulations and standards. "We are proposing to increase resources by more than $11.3 million to support enforcement programs, and $5.2 million to provide compliance assistance to employers and employees, especially small businesses," said Foulke. "The president's proposed budget provides us the resources we need to continue making a positive impact on workplace safety and health. This budget reinforces our balanced approach to employee safety and health — an approach that works."

Since 2001, OSHA has implemented a balanced approach consisting of aggressive enforcement, cooperative programs, outreach, education and compliance assistance, which has yielded the lowest workplace fatality and injury and illness rates on record. During this same period, the overall fatality rate has dropped by 9 percent, and it has fallen by 22 percent among Hispanic employees.

OSHA has plans to conduct 37,700 workplace inspections throughout FY 2009 and will continue to focus its resources on the most serious hazards and dangerous workplaces, and on industries with high rates of injuries and illnesses. OSHA's Enhanced Enforcement Program focuses on employers who ignore their safety and health obligations, while the agency's Local and National Emphasis Programs focus on specific industries or safety and health issues.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.

For more information on this article visit www.osha.gov. For information on how to protect your company against potential liability, please contact Berkshire Associates Inc. at 800.882.8904 or email bai@berkshireassociates.com.