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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaawxm0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DO'CUINT RES013
05412 - (81005958]
Sporadic WorkplAce Inspections for Lethal and Other Serious
Health Hazards. BOR-77-143; 5-163375. April 5g 178. 49 pp. + 6
appendices (20 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Stoats# Comptroller general.
Issue Area; Consumer and Worker Protection: Imployerx Compliance
With Occupational Health Standards (912).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget anctions Health: Prevention and Control of Health
Prcbless (553).
Organization Concerned: Department of Labor; Occupational Safety
and Health Administration.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Iducation and Labor-
Senate Committee on Human ReouLcong Congress.
Authority: Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 u.S.C.
651). Toxic Substances Control Act (P.L. 94-469).
The occupational Safety und Health Act of 1971 was
designed to assure, as far as possible, safe and healthful
working conditions for every worker in the NatJon. A review was
conducted to determine how well the Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSfk) is managing
industrial hygienists# efforts to deal with cancer-causing
chemicalp and other health hazards in industrial settings.
Findings/Conclusions: Thousauds of wo-kplaces have not yet been
ivapected by Federal or State industria. hygienists for health
hazards. Of those that have been inspeutede only 26% were where
one or more carcinogens, suspected carcinogens, cr otbor
substances posing high risks were detected. Aggressive action is
needed to require OSHA and the States to inspect workplaces with
high-risk health hazards. Without a plan that considers what can
be done to enforue standards cn high-risk health hazards, OSHA
management has little control over heialth hygienists. OSHA's
ability to emphasize certain high-risk substances say be
significantly hindored by the lack of qualified personael,
problems with equipment. sampling procedurese and laboratory
analysis methods. Industrial hygienists' inspectaons frequently
have not provided convincing evidn c-e that employers provided
the prctection required. Recommendations: '&he Secretary of
Labor should direct OSHA to establish a Lasic health standards
enforcement plan that considors: the relative severity of the
health risks posed by toxic substances and other health hazards
covered by the standards; the number and location of verkplaces
likely to have such hazards and the number of workers exposed to
then; the ability of OSA and States to sake inspections with
qualified personnel. reliable equipment, and proper procedures;
and the degree of employers' compliance with the standards.
Industrial hygienists should be required to: identify and record
all high-risk substances at eacL workplace inspected, check for
and document whethar employers are in compliance with each](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawxm0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)