U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., is pleased by the new efforts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)and the Small Business Administration to proactively help small businesses. "Employers want the same thing that government regulators want: safe and healthy workers. I'm pleased that through the leadership of this Administration OSHA is realizing that small businesses have unique safety and health issues. They need to be helped not hindered in making their workplaces safer. One of my biggest problems with the overturned ergonomics rule was that it did not take into account the unique needs and capabilities of small businesses. This new agreement between OSHA and the Small Business Administration to reduce ergonomic injury should bring about positive change for workers," said Enzi. "Small businesses want help, not headaches. OSHA's goal should not be to issue more citations and levy more fines, but rather to prevent the dangerous situations that would result in penalties, from occurring in the first place. Cooperation will help workers much, much more than antagonism. This an important step in the right direction." Enzi is the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training which has oversight jurisdiction of OSHA. He has authored and successfully helped implement a number of safety and health related bills. He is also an active member of the Senate Small Business Committee. Below is a release issued by the Small Business Administration today. For Release: November 21, 2002 Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941 John.mcdowell@sba.gov SBA Number: 02-44 ADVO
|