Assault on worker safety protections: Dangerous bedfellows in Congress, the White House and trade associations

In the first few weeks of the 114^th Congress, dozens of bills were introduced to address the alleged problem of over-regulation of healthcare, the environment, consumer goods and workplaces. [The abstract submission deadline is too early for me to analyze the bills and present more specific information about them in this abstract.)  Such measures have been introduced in previous years, but their chances for success were heightened by the make-up of the new Congress (in office January 2015 through December 2016.) Proponents of these bills use oft-repeated rhetoric about regulations “killing jobs” and “unaccountable bureaucrats” imposing unnecessary mandates.  Intentionally absent is any information on the benefits to public health of regulations that address safety hazards, toxic chemicals, and other factors that cause death, injury, illness and disability. This presentation will examine the potential impact of “regulatory reform” proposals on occupational safety and health protections. It will describe the key players promoting these bills, the status of the legislation, and the White House’s response to the measures. The type and content of counter measures by public health allies will be discussed.