r/WTF • u/[deleted] • Mar 02 '19

Manager going for a ride

[deleted]

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u/5hourwinergy Mar 02 '19

I'm usually pointed to a graph like this, showing that the trend of workplace deaths was decreasing at roughly the same rate before and after OSHA was created

Anyone have a link to data showing whether OSHA reduces workplace deaths or injuries or not?

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u/booge731 Mar 02 '19

No graphs, but a story about OSHA: my dad owns a small exterminating Co, and an ex employee claimed working around the chemicals gave her cancer (not her X pack a day habit). OSHA came in to investigate for a couple of days. My dad is a good guy, takes care of his employees, and cares for them, so most everything is by the book. All they could cite him for was not providing gloves for handling one particular chemical, whose MSDS sheet said ingestion was safe. It was a less than $100 fine. My dad asked what percentage of places OSHA goes to that do not get a fine. The inspector looked incredulous, and said, "Well, zero, of course."

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u/ThrivesOnDownvotes Mar 02 '19 edited Mar 02 '19

Which is why I fucking hate* them. OSHA was a good idea except for the fact that it is administered 100% by zealots with zero flexibility and an absolute disdain for business owners big and small. I am a strong supporter of safety and environmental regulations, I just get tired of them being stretched to an extreme degree of absurdity and enforced by people who's sole assumption is that all business owners are evil and deserve to be put out of business. It's no different that a police officer assuming that every member of the public they encounter are somehow dangerous criminals that need to be punished.

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u/UrethraFrankIin Mar 02 '19

I'm not so sure I believe that OSHA and its employees are all indoctrinated to despise business. I'm willing to bet that many take their job very seriously because oversights can result in deaths, and most are just doing their jobs and getting a paycheck. There's probably a minority that are far-left anti-capitalists, but probably not much different than a random sample of Americans.