Prev: Is there ANYBODY (not sock-puppets) who supports Proby?
Next: Olympian Michael Phelps Flakes Out with Paid Endorsement of Frosted Flakes Cereal
From: Jan Drew on 23 Aug 2008 14:03
http://www.naturalnews.com/z023912.html

Bush Administration Rushes to Change Workplace Toxin Regulations Before End
of Term
by Jo Hartley (see all articles by this author)


(NaturalNews) In the final months of the Bush administration, the Department
of Labor is pushing through a rule that will make it harder to regulate
workers' on-the-job exposure to chemicals and toxins. Instead of disclosing
their proposal (as required) in the public notices of regulatory plans, the
Labor Secretary made her plans first known on July 7 when the White House
OMB wrote on its website that it was reviewing this proposal. The proposal
was identified only by its title.

The contents of the proposal have not been disclosed to the public.
According to an early draft obtained by the Washington Post, however, the
proposal calls for re-examining methods for measuring risks posed by
workplace toxins.

The new proposal would also require that extra steps be taken before new
limits on chemicals in the workplace are set. This would occur because of an
extra level of challenges instituted to gauge risk assessments.

The pace that these regulatory changes are being instituted is contrasted
with prior reluctance in altering workplace safety rules over the entire
course of the Bush administration. During this time the department has
adopted only one health rule pertaining to chemicals in the workplace (and
this was done under court order).

The OMB has had risk assessment on its agenda since 2006. At that time, they
attempted to set new standards for overseeing how federal agencies reach
their conclusions. That plan was withdrawn because the National Academy of
Sciences labeled it "fatally flawed" saying it lacked scientific grounding.

Several months ago, Deborah Misir, a Political Deputy with the Labor's
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, worked with the OMB to
construct a new risk-assessment rule. The usual protocol before drafting
such a rule is for agency officials to consult with staff members, lawyers
and other outside experts, and sometimes industry and other interested
parties as well. Misir did not initially consult experts according to
sources, however.

In spring 2007 the department was listing 38 potential workplace-safety
regulations as works in progress. Included in these priorities were a
proposal to reduce deaths and injuries from cranes and derricks, a proposal
to reduce illnesses from silica, and a proposal to change the regulation of
beryllium (a light metal that can harm the lungs of dental and metal
workers).

Almost overnight, however, tackling the risk-assessment process became the
agency's top priority as far as workplace regulations. The July submission
of the proposal broke a deadline that was set by White House Chief of Staff
Joshua B. Bolten. Even so, the OMB agreed to work on the proposal. The July
7 post on the website surprised people both inside and outside the agency
who had been aware of the events.

The concern, obviously, is that this secrecy is an attempt change job safety
and health laws as well as reduce required workplace protections. Adding
this rule would create another barrier for safety standards and effectively
guarantee that future worker safety regulations are prevented.

Department policy prevents discussion of the details of a draft rule until
it is reviewed by the OMB. The public will have 30 days to analyze the draft
after it is published.

From: Frank on 24 Aug 2008 23:29

"Jan Drew" <jdrew1374(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:BgYrk.4884$zv7.3177(a)flpi143.ffdc.sbc.com...
> http://www.naturalnews.com/z023912.html
>
> Bush Administration Rushes to Change Workplace Toxin Regulations
> Before End of Term
> by Jo Hartley (see all articles by this author)

Did anyone inspect your place for lead poisoning due to soldered joints
in your plumbing?

How many children did you poison?

Have you any shame?

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, you old bag,



 | 
Pages: 1
Prev: Is there ANYBODY (not sock-puppets) who supports Proby?
Next: Olympian Michael Phelps Flakes Out with Paid Endorsement of Frosted Flakes Cereal