OSHA Safety Regulations at Risk for the Chemical Industry:
On April 17, 2013, the town of West, Texas was virtually flattened by a massive explosion at the West Fertilizer Company—a tragedy that killed 15 people, injured 200 others and destroyed over 500 homes. The explosion triggered a slew of lawsuits and prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to strengthen regulations around chemical safety. Today, a small bit of language in the Farm Bill now before Congress has the potential to unravel those regulations, possibly exempting the entire chemical industry from critical workplace safety rules.As the Houston Chronicle recently reported, the most recent version of the Farm Bill contains a little-known provision that would enable a large chemical facility to claim exemption from key safety rules by claiming to be a retail store. If passed in its current form, the bill would potentially jeopardize the health of many thousands of workers, leaving them with little recourse.
Part of a Rollback Trend?
The OSHA safety reforms that were initiated in the aftermath of West, Texas were actually already on the chopping block as part of an overall rollback of government regulations established by the previous administration. Back in May 2018, the AP reported that now-former-EPA-chairman Scott Pruitt had already signed orders to rescind the safety measures. Some critics of the current Farm Bill believe lawmakers are trying to sneak this provision into the Farm Bill to codify a rollback of Obama-era safety regulations in such a way that it would be difficult or impossible for future administrations to reverse it.
A Reprieve for the Moment
At the time of this writing, the Farm Bill has effectively stalled in Congress after missing a September 30 deadline. At that point, the 2014 Farm Bill officially expired without a replacement, leaving a number of important farm and agricultural programs vulnerable. At this point, lawmakers doubt the Farm Bill will be revisited until after the midterm elections. While needed support for the agricultural industry hangs in the balance, it may serve as a blessing in disguise as it buys time for critics of this rogue provision to raise awareness and apply pressure to lawmakers to close this loophole in the current bill.If your health has suffered due to negligence at work, we can help you receive compensation that you may be entitled to. Call the offices of Madeksho Law at 1-888-910-6376 to learn more. There is never a cost for consultation and never a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
