Local government workers' health and safety programs.
Public sector workers are denied the broad legal protections of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. The OSH Act provides incentives for states to operate a State OSHA Plan, but they must cover private and non-Federal public sector workers. Public sector workers in states not operating a State OSHA Plan are not protected by the OSH Act. A review of enforcement activities by State OSHA Plans suggests preferential treatment for public employers compared to private. Public sector safety and health programs vary widely in the 27 states without State OSHA Plans. The Department of Labor determined that the majority of these states operate unacceptable programs. Regardless of program type, public sector workersí injuries and illnesses frequently exceed those found in the private sector.
Albers
J
J
Division of Employee Safety, Office of Environmental Management, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1947, USA. jim.albers@rcc.org
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector; D017751:Safety Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace