I’m eager to listen in on tomorrow’s congressional hearing about workplace safety. It’s being conducted by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, with the title “Workplace Safety: Ensuring a Responsible Regulatory Environment.” That’s a heading that probably means different things to different people, and those of us watching would probably benefit if Members define the phrase, “responsible regulatory environment” and explained responsible to whom?

The subcommittee chairman, Tim Walberg (R-MI), has noted previously the “creative tension” between safety regulations and job creation. He says some “regulations are dearly hurting our ability to create jobs in this country,” leading me to believe that he has examples of workplace safety rules that don’t ensure a responsible regulatory environment. I’ll have my ears open for his list and evidence, and those of any other members of the subcommittee.

In contrast, a hearing about a “responsible regulatory environment” for worker safety could mean one that responds effectively to conditions that put workers’ lives and health at risk. Examples could be the ways that:

OSHA targets violators of health and safety standards;

OSHA focuses inspection resources on bad actor companies to ensure the playing field is level for employers who that follow the law; and

rules that give workers the right to access information assembled or maintained by their employer about hazards.

Other examples could be ways in which individuals affected by a hazard or the potential regulation of a hazard have an opportunity to participate in rulemaking. An examination of the “regulatory environment” might include assessing how well OSHA

follows the numerous procedural steps to ensure the public has ample opportunity to comment on proposed regulatory changes, and

meets all of its legal thresholds for issuing a new standard.

Witnesses at the hearing will include the OSHA chief David Michaels, PhD, the president of Korellis Roofing (Hammond, IN), attorney David Sarvadi, and Peg Seminario (Director H&S, AFL-CIO).