Report: Capitol Littered With Workplace Hazards

Manufacturing Weekly ^ | 07/19/10 | Alex Irwin

[greatplains]

Everyone knows the one about glass houses — everyone except the feds, apparently. A recent report revealed the U.S. Capitol and surrounding buildings have an estimated 6,300 workplace hazards.

While Obama’s OSHA continues to ramp up fines, criminal penalties and oversight for companies, the seat of the legislative branch wouldn’t even pass its own inspection, according to a recent report from the Office of Compliance.

And many of the hazards pose major risks to employees — one-quarter of them could be deadly or cause serious injury. And some will cost a lot to fix. One example: A fire hazard in the Library of Congress will cost nearly $20 million to repair.

How’d all of these hazards slip by in the first place? Congress exempted itself from parts of federal workplace law, so it hasn’t been forced to update its facilities.

[greatplains]

Granted, the feds have been exempt for some time, but in view of the BIG emphasis on enforcement and fines you'd think...nah, never mind.

[goseminoles]

The whole damn place can burn down for all I care.

[shorty_harris]

You can’t make a workplace safe enough to satisfy OSHA...

[kallisti]

No, but a few grand will make them go away for a time.

[The Great RJ]

All the more reason to have a Constitutional Amendment that bars Congress from exempting themselves their staff or members of the executive branch from any law they pass.