Press Call to Announce Launch of First Comprehensive Database of State OSHA Regulations and Laws
March 27, 2015
MEDIA ADVISORY
Press Call to Announce Launch of First Comprehensive Database of State OSHA Regulations and Laws
Public Citizen and the Public Health Law Research Program Unveil Information for Workers, Regulators, Policymakers and Media
WHAT: Telephone press conference to announce the launch of the first comprehensive database of state occupational safety and health regulations and laws in the 25 states with a federally approved occupational safety and health enforcement agency. The call is intended to provide basic information and answer questions about the content and how to navigate the website.
Public Citizen and the Public Health Law Research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will release the free, public database as a tool for workers, advocates, state and federal regulatory officials, and employers to help them compare regulations and laws across different states and with existing federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules.
Since 1970, states have been permitted to substitute their own rulemaking and enforcement agencies for federal OSHA, as long as the state programs are “at least as effective” as the federal agency. This has allowed states to address local needs and unique industries. Currently, 25 states and two U.S. territories have federally approved state OSHA plans.
The database reveals that most state OSHA plans have amended or supplemented one or more federal regulations, and several states have issued standards protecting workers from hazards that have not yet been addressed by a federal OSHA regulation.
The website will be made available on Wednesday, April 1. For an embargoed preview of the website on Tuesday, March 31, please contact Sammy Almashat at (202) 588-7782 or salmashat@citizen.org.
WHEN: Noon EDT Wednesday, April 1
WHO: Dr. Sammy Almashat, researcher, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
Keith Wrightson, worker safety and health advocate, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division
CALL-IN: (877) 366-0711; passcode: 24687948
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