Kennedy bill would put more workers under OSHA

Sen. Ted Kennedy has introduced a bill to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act that would, among other things, expand OSHA coverage to 8.5 million public sector workers who are employed by state, county and local governments, but are not covered by an OSHA state plan.

The bill’s purpose is to “expand coverage under the Act, to increase protections for whistleblowers, to increase penalties for certain violators, and for other purposes,” according to the text of the bill. The bill has 19 co-sponsors.

For more information: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1580

Several OSHA-related bills had already been introduced on the House side, some with provisions similar to the Senate bill.