I have highlighted the major items in this appropriations report. Major items are: 1) small farms with less than 10 employees continue to be exempt, unless they have a labor camp, 2) new language clarifying OSHA’s ability to inspect small establishments where there exists the potential for a catastrophic chemical incident, with clarifying language that exempts employers that are farming, harvesting, or processing operations on farms, 3) $10,687,000 for the OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, 4) Committee recommends continued support for OSHA’s VPP; however, there is NO MENTION of $ for OSHA to continue with VPP. Here are the details:
Appropriations, 2014………………………………………………………………… $552,247,000
Budget estimate, 2015………………………………………………………………… $565,010,000
Committee recommendation……………………………………………………………$557,364,000
The Committee recommends $557,364,000 for OSHA, which is responsible for enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in the Nation’s workplaces. The Committee continues bill language to allow OSHA to retain course tuition and fees for training institute courses used for occupational safety and health training and education activities in the private sector. The cap established by the bill is $499,000 up from $200,000 under current law.
The Committee bill retains language that continues to effectively exempt farms employing 10 or fewer people from the provisions of the act with the exception of those farms having a temporary labor camp. The bill also retains language exempting small firms in industry classifications having a lost workday injury rate less than the national average from general schedule safety inspections.
The Committee bill includes new language clarifying OSHA’s ability to inspect small establishments where there exists the potential for a catastrophic chemical incident. The clarifying language exempts employers that are farming, harvesting, or processing operations on farms. The clarifying language will enable OSHA to conduct inspections of nonfarm establishments covered by OSHA’s Process Safety of Highly Hazardous Chemical standards or the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chemical Accident Prevention Pro-visions.
The Committee recommends $101,400,000 for grants to States under section 203(g) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These funds primarily are provided to States that have taken responsibility for administering their own occupational safety and health programs for the private sector and/or the public sector. State plans must be at least as effective as the Federal program and are monitored by OSHA. The Committee bill continues language that allows OSHA to provide grants of up to 50 percent for the costs of State plans approved by the agency.
The Committee also believes that OSHA’s worker safety and health training and education programs, including the grant program that supports such training, are a critical part of a comprehensive approach to worker protection. Under the program, grants are made to various types of organizations representing employers and labor organizations for direct training of workers on occupational safety and health. The Committee recommendation includes $10,687,000 for the OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.
The bill continues the exemption of small farming operations from OSHA regulation. The OSHA is encouraged to continue working with the Department of Agriculture before moving forward with any attempts to redefine and regulate post-harvest activities, to include, but not limited to, storing, drying, grinding, and other activities necessary to market farm products to subsequent users in the agricultural value chain, and clarify that this exemption shall apply to on farm post-harvest activities.
The Committee recognizes that fewer injuries mean lower worker’s compensation and healthcare costs, and safer, more productive workers. The average worksite participating in the Voluntary Protection Programs [VPP] has a Days Away Restricted or Transferred case rate of 52 percent below the industry average. The Committee recommends continued support for OSHA’s VPP.
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