Should OSHA Be Able To Fine Individual Employees?

September 1, 2015 No Comments

In the USA, OSHA does not have the authority to fine individual workers.  However, in many Canadian Provinces, government safety inspectors do have the authority to fine employees!

There’s plenty of evidence that shows this policy is working in Canada.  For almost 10 years I worked in Canada and saw the benefits of this policy first hand.  I believe that Canadian workers as a whole take workplace safety more seriously then their USA counterparts – largely because they are “personally responsible” for following Provincial safety regulations.

If fining employees works, why doesn’t OSHA in the USA adopt such a policy?  OSHA is a government agency.  They are very slow to change and I doubt we’ll ever see such a standard adopted here in the USA.  Besides, the powerful Labor Union Lobby would vigorously fight such legislation if it were ever proposed.

To read more about this important safety issue, click here.

P.S. The above image is a photograph of a very old workplace safety poster that I have hanging in my office.  I believe it is at least 65 years old.

Safety Articles