LANSING - Legislation is in the works to improve worker safety by getting tough on employers who break state safety laws.

State Sen. Brenda Scott announced the legislation earlier this month at a press conference where she was joined by representatives of the state's labor unions.

Scott's bill would double Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act fines and use that extra revenue to hire more work site inspectors. Employers who have the worst safety record would actually pay to hire more inspectors.

According to the Senate Democratic Caucus, Michigan has 71 safety inspectors to cover a workforce of more than 5.2 million. Each Michigan safety inspector is responsible for 74,000 workers. Other states have better ratios, including the right-to-work state of North Carolina. That state has a workforce of 4 million, but they also have 114 safety inspectors.

This is another example of a bill that brings to light the needs of Michigan's workers, but probably doesn't stand a chance of getting passed with Republicans controlling state government.