Tell Your Senators and Representative to Co-Sponsor the Protecting America's Workers Act

Thousands of workers are killed or hurt on the job each year.

You can do something about it. Tell your senators and representative to co-sponsor the Protecting America’s Workers Act, S. 1244 and H.R. 2049. The bill would expand OSHA protections to millions of uncovered workers, enhance whistleblower protections and substantially increase penalties for serious, willful and criminal safety violations.

Please use the form below to urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor the Protecting America's Workers Act.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please Co-Sponsor S. 1244 or H.R. 2049, the Protecting America's Workers Act

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to strengthen health and safety protections for workers. Please co-sponsor the Protecting America's Workers Act.

Since passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970, job fatalities, injuries and illnesses have been significantly reduced. But serious problems remain, and too many workers face danger on the job. On average, 16 workers are killed a day in America, and more than 12,000 are injured or made sick due to workplace hazards. Millions of workers, including many state and local public employees, have no protections under the federal law.

Changes in the workplace, the workforce and society have created new problems such as ergonomic hazards, indoor air contaminants and bioterrorist threats.

In recent years, enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the foundation of an effective safety program, has weakened. In 2005, OSHA's average penalty for serious violations--those likely to cause death or serious harm--was only $873.

Safety and health standards need to be updated and strengthened. OSHA standards and regulations have reduced exposure to major workplace hazards. But for many hazards, standards are out of date or nonexistent. Under the Bush administration, the issuance of new regulations and protections has ground to a halt. Dozens of pending rules were withdrawn, and action on most others has been significant delayed.

The Protecting America's Workers Act would strengthen the federal law by expanding coverage to uncovered workers, enhancing whistleblower protections and increasing penalties for serious, willful and criminal violations. I urge you to co-sponsor the bill and bring a renewed emphasis on worker safety and improved protections.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 27, 2007

Background Information

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 provides the basic legal framework for protecting most U.S. workers. Under the act, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the responsibility to set and enforce safety and health standards to protect workers against job hazards.

Since passage of the act, workplace fatality rates have declined by 77 percent and workplace injury rates by 55 percent. But serious problems remain. Millions of workers have no OSH Act protections, enforcement of the OSHA program has weakened, and safety and health standards need to be updated.

The Protecting America's Workers Act would strengthen OSHA by expanding coverage to uncovered workers, enhancing whistleblower protections and increasing penalties for serious, willful and criminal violations.