Finally, Congress has passed a 2009 budget that was supposed to have taken effect last October 1, according to the American Industrial Hygiene Association. According to AIHA’s analysis, OSHA received an increase in overall dollars, with much of this coming in the form of enforcement appropriations. The breakdown:
Safety and Health Standards — $17,204,000
Federal Enforcement — $197,946,000
State Programs — $92,593,000
Technical Support — $22,632,000
Compliance Assistance
Federal — $72,659
State Consultation — $54,531,000
Training Grants — $10,000,000
Safety and Health Statistics — $34,128,000
Administration — $11,349,000
Total OSHA funding — $513,042,000
AIHA notes that language attached to the final 2009 budget states OSHA should spend more of this money on enforcement, improved recordkeeping, specific issues such as diacetyl, cranes and derricks, pandemic flu, ergonomics guidelines, silica, etc.
NIOSH received $360 million for 2009. The 2009 budget does include $112 million for the National Occupational Research Agenda and $70 million for the WTC health project, according to AIHA’s analysis
2010 BudgetPresident Obama submitted his budget request to Congress and both the Senate and the House have adopted budget resolutions with the total dollar amount to be spent in 2010. But according to AIHA, attempting to find out where these dollars will be spent is impossible. There are also no details on what NIOSH may receive in 2010. But there is a figure provided for the Environmental Protection Agency. The President is requesting a 34-percent increase in EPA spending. If the proposal goes through, EPA will be receiving more than $10 billion per year compared to a little over $500 million for OSHA, according to AIHA’s analysis.
Budgets figures are in for OSHA, NIOSH and EPA (4/9)