Support of the 108TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1272. Bill

Update: October 15, 2005

This petition is now closed. Thanks to all supporters and to those who are now supporting the Stop Corporate Killing Campaign located at http://www.nycosh.org/environment_wtc/GulfCoast/NewOrleans10-6-05letter.htm.

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A resolution in support of 108TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1272. To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to modify the provisions relating to citations and penalties.

Since 1982, approximately 170,000 workers have died due to workplace fatalities. Many of these workers died due to disregard for worker safety on the part of the employer. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA has the right to refer such cases of employer misconduct to the U.S. Department of Justice for criminal prosecution.

The facts are that since 1982, only 81 out of 170,000 workplace deaths have resulted in convictions, only 16 of which involved jail time.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act defines an employer's reckless disregard for safety resulting in the death of a worker as a misdemeanor, punishable by only a maximum of six months in jail.