from Ted Schwartz, Safety/Training Manager, HR Ideas
President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget would boost spending to combat workers safety issues and the protection of workers in the workplace amongst other priorities. These budget consideration will not only increase the federal government’s oversight of labor violations but also put more OSHA inspectors in the field. Separate legislation is currently being considered to in some cases, almost double OSHA fines.
The Obama administration has proposed $14 billion to fund Labor Department divisions pertaining to work force development and safety, among other initiatives. Several Labor Department divisions, including the Employee Benefits Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Wage and Hour Division, among others, saw moderate increases to their fiscal 2011 unit budgets from 2010 levels.
In an online chat Monday following the budget's release, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the department would seek to allocate $1.7 billion for worker protection programs—an increase of roughly $69 million—and also hire about 177 new inspectors and investigators.
"Today's budget affirms this administration's strong commitment to vigorous enforcement," Ms. Solis said in a recorded video message. She added, "OSHA received over 100 inspectors in our 2010 budget, as well as an additional 25 requested in 2011. We are also moving 35 inspectors from compliance assistance activities to enforcement."
Mr. Obama also outlined several high-priority performance goals for the Labor Department, which included reducing workplace fatalities and increasing the percentage of employers who abide by wage-law enforcement from 66% in 2009 to 75% in 2011.
Sincerely,
Ted Schwartz is Safety and Training Manager of HR Ideas. He can be reached at WWW.HRIDEAS.COM. Direct: 925.415.5152. Main: 925.556.4404. Fax: 925.415.5160
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