Workplace watchdog

Directing the agency that regulates and enforces workplace safety is difficult because it requires striking a balance between the highly competitive interests of business and of organized labor. Pat Tyson, who served as OSHA's acting assistant secretary during the Reagan years, agrees that the post is not for the fainthearted. "If I had everyone a little mad at me, then I'd think I probably made the right decision," he said. "It's just that kind of job."

During a Republican Administration, expect a lot more of the criticism to come from the labor camp. Peg Seminario, the AFL-CIO's director of health and safety, fears that the Bush Administration's new assistant secretary will have a more pro-business slant than the Clinton Administration's Charles Jeffress did. "We're worried, based on past history," she said. "Reagan was so bad across the board on workplace safety and regulations."

One hot button will be ergonomics, which is the study of equipment design intended to reduce worker fatigue and discomfort. In November, during the final weeks of the Clinton Administration, OSHA issued standards compelling most employers to install equipment to reduce injuries caused by repetitive motions. The standards went into effect in January. OSHA maintains that its ergonomics rules will prevent on-the-job injuries, but businesses complain that compliance will cost them billions of dollars. Tyson points out that Congress, the courts, and the Bush White House could all strike down OSHA's new rules. Still, he says, the issue -- in one way or another -- will likely end up in the new assistant secretary's lap.

Cleary, whose group represents manufacturers, believes that the new assistant secretary can help shift OSHA's focus from enforcement of workplace safety rules to compliance on these issues. "They spend three times as much on 'Gotcha' than 'Here, let me help you with this,' " he said. "OSHA still has a cop on every street corner." Return to main story