Updates OSHA’s Heat Standard and Walkaround Rule

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following:

September Jobs Figures
On Oct. 6, the Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said the economy created 336,000 jobs in September. This is much higher than ADP’s report that private growth totaled 89,000 jobs and the BLS household survey, which produces the unemployment rate, only going up by 86,000 jobs. This is because the BLS estimate of 336,000 jobs includes 151,000 part-time workers and 123,000 workers holding multiple jobs. In fact, the last three months the economy lost full-time jobs. Also, the single biggest job increase category in the 336,000 figure was government jobs.

Small Business Review Comments to OSHA Heat Standard Options
TRIA submitted comments on Oct. 3 on behalf of our Small Entity Representatives (SERS) as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) process for OSHA’s Heat standard. NRCA’s Rod Petrick (Ridgeworth Roofing, IL) and John Fleming (Weathercraft, CO) were SERs for Small Business Advocacy Review teleconferences to give feedback to OSHA and the comments follow up on the meetings. NRCA and TRIA have been working together on this in sessions facilitated by the law firm for the Employers Heat Illness Prevention Coalition.

House Oversight Hearing on OSHA
On Sept. 27, I attended the House Sbcmte. on Workforce Protections hearing, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,” where DOL Asst. Sec. for OSHA Doug Parker was roundly criticized by Republicans. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), who TRIA met with during the April fly-in, blasted Parker for OSHA’s heat standard, and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) asked how much the heat standard will cost small businesses (Parker doesn’t know), and why OSHA wants union reps to accompany inspectors in businesses with no unions (the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process rule).
Sen. Cassidy on OSHA’s Walkaround Rule
Per today’s LAW360 newsletter, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the top Republican on the Senate labor committee who TRIA lunched with during the April fly-in, is strongly opposing OSHA’s Worker Walkaround rule that would have union reps accompany OSHA inspectors at workplace inspections, arguing it “inappropriately politicizes” workplace safety.

For more information on our Government Relations Committee or the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA) please email us at [email protected] or visit our website at www.tileroofing.org