Enzi’s SAFE Act has good chance of passing
Though he opposes the federal ergonomics proposal, occupational health professionals could have a friend in U.S. Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY).
Enzi introduced his own bill, the Safety Advancement for Employees (SAFE) Act, this year to revamp the federal workplace safety program. If passed, the bill could prove a boon to occupational health professionals because it encourages employers to contract with local safety professionals to improve conditions in the workplace.
The SAFE Act would set up a program requiring the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to qualify expert safety consultants to assist businesses in correcting safety problems and complying with the law. Many large companies hire their own safety consultants, Enzi notes, but smaller employers sometimes find that difficult. As an incentive, Enzi’s bill provides for a one-year period of amnesty from civil fines if the business has acted in good faith and implemented a safety plan under the guidance of the OSHA-certified safety professional. OSHA still retains the right to inspect and if the employer is found to have acted in bad faith, then "all bets are off," Enzi says.
Enzi’s bill also would require continuing education for OSHA personnel. The future looks brighter for Enzi’s SAFE Act than it does for OSHA’s ergonomics proposal. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee recently voted 10-8 to send the bill to the Senate floor for approval. The committee unanimously approved one amendment to the bill specifying that a person must have 10 years of experience in specific safety areas to qualify as an independent safety consultant.
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