Jim Celenza (New Solutions, Vol. 18, No. 3) wrote of a lack of clarity as to whether OSHA's role in disaster response efforts is one of consultation or of enforcement. Here, the author suggests the problem originates not in a lack of clarity but rather in substantive policy changes implemented during the Bush administration. The revisions emphasize voluntary action at the expense of regulation and enforcement. The changes arguably are at variance with OSHA's legal obligation to ensure protection of workers against avoidable harmful exposures, including those that occur during disaster response efforts.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CelenzaJ.. Protecting Disaster Site, Support, and Recovery Workers. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. Vol. 18, No. 3, 2008.
2.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Guidelines for Catastrophic Emergency Situations Involving Asbestos. EPA 340/I-92-010, February 1992.
LippyB.. Protecting the Health and Safety of Rescue and Recovery Workers. In LevyB.SidelV., eds. Terrorism and Public Health—A Balanced Approach to Strengthening Systems and Protecting People. Oxford University Press, New York, 2003.
6.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Inside the Green Line—OSHA Responds to Disaster. August 13, 2003, www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3189.pdf (accessed December 20, 2008).
7.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A Dangerous Worksite: The World Trade Center. December 2003. www.osha.gov/Publications/dangerous_worksite.pdf (accessed December 20, 2008).
8.
NewmanD.. Testimony before United States House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, Oversight Hearing on “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Response to Air Quality Issues Arising from the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001: Were There Substantive Due Process Violations?,” June 25, 2007. www.nycosh.org/pdf/Nadler%20Congressional%20testimony%20062507%20final%20().pdf (accessed December 20, 2008).
