Report: Capitol littered with workplace hazards
July 19, 2010 by Alex IrwinPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, News, Safety and Health
Everyone knows the one about glass houses — everyone except the feds, apparently. A recent report revealed the U.S. Capitol and surrounding buildings have an estimated 6,300 workplace hazards.
While Obama’s OSHA continues to ramp up fines, criminal penalties and oversight for companies, the seat of the legislative branch wouldn’t even pass its own inspection, according to a recent report from the Office of Compliance.
And many of the hazards pose major risks to employees — one-quarter of them could be deadly or cause serious injury. And some will cost a lot to fix. One example: A fire hazard in the Library of Congress will cost nearly $20 million to repair.
How’d all of these hazards slip by in the first place? Congress exempted itself from parts of federal workplace law, so it hasn’t been forced to update its facilities.
Tags: Capitol, Library of Congress, Office of Compliance, workplace hazards
Loading ...
