Move to Disband State OSHA

It is understandable that in this present climate of cost-cutting, and budgeting woes, that certain state-endorsed programs must be curtailed. However, as one who has been involved in the construction and safety industry for more than 12 years, and as a voter, I urge Gov. Deukmejian to maintain the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

I know from my own experience that several potentially hazardous situations have been averted because of the requirement to annually inspect and certificate cranes. Recently, while performing such an inspection, I found that a “lock-pin,” which suspended the load hook, was left out by maintenance personnel. This crane was in constant use by employees, operating directly under the hoist. Had the parts shifted just one-half inch more, the hoist and its load would have fallen.

Again, while performing routine inspections on construction equipment, I found a piece of rigging, which although the same size and configuration as standard items in this country, was rated at one-third the capacity. This item had been shipped with a turbine unit from England, and was being used for a maximum lift, on a crane with 240 feet of boom, over Containment III at San Onofre nuclear generating station. This type of occurrence is commonplace; I could list many more examples, each equally as dangerous.

The crux of the problem is that the U.S. Department of Labor would not have required any of these inspections. They specifically limit inspections to maritime operations. The State of California has required inspection, maintenance, and certification of all hoists exceeding 3-ton capacity since 1974. It does not require a stretch of the imagination to see the needless risks that employees throughout our state will be subjected to, if this program is dismantled.

I am part of a cottage industry that was enlivened by Title 8, Article 99, of the General Industry Safety Orders. However, thousands of people rely on jobs created to support the inspection program--maintenance, parts, sales, building, and construction trades. We are a small group who believe that safety in the workplace should be a major concern of employees and employers. Under “normal” conditions, I have seen employees subjected to unnecessary risks in the name of production. I encourage the governor not to open the door to reckless abuse of employees, and total disregard for the fundamentals of safety.

DONALD G. BATCHELOR

Fullerton