The bill aims to: merge OSHA with MSHA; establish a standards-setting board within the Labor Department; eliminate NIOSH; expand the role of the Voluntary Protection Program; let employers fix alleged violations before a citation can be issued; and, target half OSHA's funding toward consultation, training, education, and compliance assistance programs.
Labor Secretary Reich says the proposed legislation revokes workers' rights to a safe and healthy workplace. At press time, hearings on the bill were set for June 20 and 28.