An article in today’s Washington Post describes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new approach to workplace safety and health regulation. In OSHA Withdraws More Rules Than It Makes, Reviews Find, Cindy Skrzycki notes that, “[s]ince the administration took over in 2001, the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has forged hundreds of agreements with companies and business associations to improve their safety records while rulemaking has been sharply curtailed.” These agreements or “long term alliances” emphasize outreach, education, and sharing “best practices.” The OSH Administration argues that the new approach has resulted in safer workplaces. Unions and other critics are concerned with the lack of union participation in these alliances, and questioned the data presented by the administration.
