LANSING - More MIOSHA inspectors and stiffer penalties against companies that violate worker safety standards - those are two ever-present objectives of the building trades, and they're actually getting some attention in our state capitol.

Late last month, to coincide with Workers' Memorial Day on April 28, state Sen. Ken DeBeaussaert (D-Chesterfield Twp.) introduced legislation to crack down on unsafe work sites and improve worker safety.

"I am announcing this legislation today in honor of the AFL-CIO Workers' Safety Conference that begins today in Lansing to let working men and women know that their concerns are not falling on deaf ears at the state capitol," said DeBeaussaert. "Work sites should not create dangerous situations for workers because of employer shortcuts to save time or money. More state MIOSHA inspectors could help ensure that workers are as safe as possible on the job."

And, on March 21, six state House Republicans joined a unanimous delegation of Democrats to help squeak by an amendment to the state Department of Consumer and Industry Services' budget to approve financing for an additional 15 workplace safety inspectors.
A total of 87 Michigan workers lost their lives in 1999 - an increase of 28 percent from the year before and the deadliest year for workers in the state in 20 years. Among the dead were 31 killed in the construction industry.

Of the proposed additional 15 workplace inspectors, five would go to the Construction Safety Division of MIOSHA, five to general industry and five would go to industrial hygiene.
DeBeaussaert's bill would double the current MIOSHA fines and use that extra revenue to hire more work site inspectors.

The state Senate was expected to take up the budget bill with the additional workplace inspector money this week, where it faces a dim future among the Republican majority. Meanwhile, the DeBeaussaert bill was expected to be referred to the GOP-run Senate Human Resources, Labor, Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs Committee, where it could face an immediate roadblock.

"It's a good idea, but I wouldn't look for it to come up for a vote anytime soon," said Michigan AFL-CIO Legislative Director Tim Hughes. He said the only bright spot is that the committee's makeup is new and relatively unknown - but is still led by Republicans.

Currently, there are 51 state inspectors that inspect for general industry and construction safety in Michigan. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, Michigan lags behind other comparable states in the number of inspectors. Michigan's 51 inspectors cover a civilian labor force of over 4 million workers. Minnesota, with a labor force of slightly over 2.6 million, has 50 inspectors. North Carolina - remarkably for a right-to-work state - has 98 inspectors for a labor force of approximately 3.8 million.

The DeBeaussaert bill would increase the maximum fines for violating MIOSHA rules. This would mean that employers who have the worst safety record would actually pay to hire more inspectors.

"It is only right that the worst employers should pay the inspectors we hire to protect workers," said DeBeaussaert. "Michigan workers have helped create the booming state economy we all enjoy now, and we can show our appreciation by cracking down on these unsafe work sites and stepping up our workplace safety inspections."