June 16, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Private sector interests are pressing Congress to probe OSHA's ability to evaluate the effectiveness of state plans, seeking assurance that states will continue to provide flexibility in regulatory enforcement, the chairman of the House workplace protections panel told Inside OSHA Online in an exclusive interview June 16 shortly after he convened a hearing on the issue. OSHA has in recent months pressed state plans to adopt federal penalty structures and inspection emphasis programs. The panel's chairman says he will seek a Government Accountability Office study of OSHA's enforcement program,