Deukmejian’s Proposal to Abolish Cal-OSHA

As a safety professional involved in the very business Cal-OSHA regulates in this state, I believe the firestorm of controversy has grown to a point where the governor cannot justify his actions based on budget alone.

Everyone in the safety business knows that Cal-OSHA has become a needed institution in this state and has learned to work within its guidelines, which represent common sense on the job in the majority of its rulings.

An important area that is being overlooked in the pros and cons of Cal-OSHA is the effect on the general public. While regulating workplace activities for the benefit of the workers, the general public at large reaps a huge profit from these activities. These same rules that Cal-OSHA applies to the workplace also appear in what the public is exposed to in retail stores and other shopping facilities. The conditions and safeguards required to be in place for the employees keeps most businesses from becoming firetraps and health risks to those who patronize these establishments. Who thinks of these considerations and what would occur when they are allowed to fall into federal hands?

I, for one, cannot believe that the motivation for this action by the governor is purely that of economy. Whatever the motivation is, the question must be answered, “Is the result of NOT having Cal-OSHA worth the savings?” The answer should settle this issue once and for all.

RICHARD G. SAMS

Whittier