Circuit Board Industry Maligned

I had to shake my head and rub my eyes several times in order to get through the July 22 article, “Safety Problems Plague Circuit Board Industry.”

If this article had been written in the early ‘70s, it may have been appropriate. But for it to appear today is nothing short of fear-mongering. No one is defending the actions of the few bad actors. But to malign what is perhaps the hardest-working industry in the state is irresponsible and unfair.

During the last decade, circuit companies have spent not thousands, but hundreds of thousands [of dollars] in compliance with ever increasing regulations for safety and environmental concerns. One might think after reading the article that if it weren’t for Cal/OSHA the state would be awash in tragedy. And maybe what the industry needs is unions to come in and pick the bones of an industry fighting for its life in an increasingly competitive international marketplace.

For the record, printed circuit manufacturers in Southern California report to a network of agencies which overlap and require annual fees, lots of record keeping, and are capable of levying major punitive fines. They can also close down a factory permanently.

In addition, more stringent safety requirements from insurance carriers can keep at least one person, if not a staff, busy all the time. This level of compliance, which protects employees and the community, represents a significant cost of doing business.

There is a dangerous trend in this country where the actions of the few limit the freedom of the many.

Is what happened to these workers tragic? Yes.

The laws to protect and penalize are in place. Enforce them. But to drag an entire industry through the mud is beyond irresponsible. This level of disinformation should be a crime.

MARK SIMMONS

Huntington Beach