Walberg speaks about regulatory costs

Washington – During a Feb. 11 speech on the House floor, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) bemoaned the expense occupational safety and health regulations pose on small businesses. Citing figures (.pdf file) from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, Walberg said OSHA regulations cost businesses with fewer than 500 employees between $650 and $781 per employee.

Walberg said although “commonsense” rules are needed to promote workplace safety, “onerous” regulations should not block job creation. He also expressed reservations about OSHA’s recent emphasis on enforcement programs.

“There are serious questions about whether OSHA’s punishment-before-prevention approach to workplace safety is really in the best interest of the workers,” he said.

Walberg, chair of the Education and the Workforce Committee’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee, made his comments in support of a resolution directing House committees to review existing and proposed regulations and their effect on economic growth (H.Res. 72). The resolution passed 391-28 in a largely bipartisan vote.