OSHA moves to strip state of ability to regulate worker safety
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is moving to strip Arizona officials of their ability to regulate worker safety in Arizona because of the state’s failure to immediately adopt emergency Covid health care rules to protect workers.
In a letter Tuesday, James Frederick, OSHA’s acting assistant secretary, said the agency is taking the first steps to rescind its 1985 decision to let the Industrial Commission of Arizona oversee ensuring that safety rules are being enforced.
“OSHA will be initiating reconsideration proceedings with a proposal to revoke Arizona’s final approval,” he wrote to James Ashley, the commission’s director.
“Arizona’s ongoing failure to adopt the Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard is continuously placing healthcare workers at risk as they are deprived of ‘at least as effective’ protections against the grave danger from the hazards of workplace exposures to SARS-CoV-2,” he said, citing the standards that state regulations have to meet to enforce federal safety laws.
Read more: https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/10/19/osha-moves-to-strip-state-of-ability-to-regulate-worker-safety/