[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to all Americans who have died as a result of workplace 
hazards. April 28 commemorates the anniversary of the Occupational 
Health and Safety Act, which remains committed to saving lives, 
preventing serious injuries, and preserving the health and safety of 
American workers.
  And yet, Mr. President, since the enactment of this important 
legislation, nearly 2 million Americans have died as a result of 
workplace hazards. The Occupational Health and Safety Act has made 
strides toward saving lives; the number of fatalities due to injury has 
declined by almost one-half since 1974. Despite this, lost workday 
injury and illness rates remained stable over the same period of time. 
Also, the disbursement of workers compensation benefits has increased 
at often two-times the normal rate during this period. The Rand 
Institute of Civil Justice estimates that workplace injury and illness 
impose a cost of $83 billion a year on society.
  These figures demonstrate that the Federal Government has fallen 
short of its promise to ensure every American a safe and healthy 
workplace. OSHA has been in place for over 20 years now, and--unlike 
other Federal environmental and safety laws--has not been reformed 
since its enactment. The workplace has changed greatly, and technology 
has improved. But protection for workers has not kept pace.
  I firmly believe that most employers are committed to improving and 
guaranteeing a safe workplace. Unfortunately a small number of 
companies continue to engage in unsafe practices. I do not necessarily 
believe that merely increasing mandates on business and criminal 
penalties for willful violations will ensure safe workplaces. For a 
business to remain successful, it should be built upon a healthy and 
productive work force, not at the expense of the lives of their 
workers.
  We need to encourage labor-management cooperation. I firmly believe 
that this is the cornerstone of workplace safety, and many businesses 
have already moved in this direction. We must have safety and health 
training programs available on the job site. We must increase the 
influence workers have on improving and maintaining a safe work 
environment. And we must assure that American workers have the ability 
to report a violation without fear of losing their jobs. In 
accomplishing these goals, however, we must be careful not to place 
such a burden on businesses that the workers lose the jobs we are 
trying to make safe.
  Most importantly, we must provide the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration with the resources--both financial and personnel--
necessary to effectively promote workplace safety. Providing the 
necessary resources will allow OSHA to strengthen enforcement and 
investigation procedures as well as increase health and safety training 
opportunities.
  In short, we must reform OSHA. In remembrance of those American 
workers who have given their lives and productive years to their 
employers, let us work to reaffirm the original intent of OSHA to save 
lives, prevent serious injuries, and preserve the health and safety of 
our work force.

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