Safety 2008 - ASSE - American Society of Safety Engineers

GovernmentAffairscontinuedfrom page 11NIOSHIf allowing an SH&E agency to notkeep up with inflation is troubling, beyondthe pale is the approximately $271million NIOSH would get in the proposedFY 2009 budget. That’s $110.9 millionless than what it received in FY 2008.This proposal only further indicates thatthis administration has no problems seeingNIOSH dwindle.NIOSH is the only federal resource foroccupational safety and health research,which OSHA and MSHA are supposedto use to make important regulatory decisions.Cutting NIOSH funding devaluesNIOSH and the roles OSHA andMSHA are meant to play in workplacesafety and health.And it is the only federal resource fortraining dollars needed for future SH&Eprofessionals. ASSE recognizes notenough of these dollars go to safety,where the jobs are, and where companiesare recognizing the levels of capabilityin managing risks. With less moneyto go around and without a leader likeJohn Howard, correcting that inequitywill take longer and be more difficult.So, ASSE urged reinstating the $110.9million to the FY 2009 budget. Breakingeven would be a victory.Maybe more disturbing is the president’s77% proposal cut from Sept. 11,2001, healthcare programs from the FY2008 amount of $108 million down to$25 million. This is money needed toaddress the unknown depths of healthproblems faced by first responders andothers following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.NIOSH was charged with the politicallydifficult job of managing the federal government’sresponse to their need. ToASSE though, after the futures of somany victims were met in the highly visibleand politically safe initial response tothe terrorist attack, not providing moneyfor an adquate response to address thepeople who became victims from respondingis an attempt to minimize responsibilityand push the problem off to thenext administration. For people to receivehealthcare and to ensure that NIOSHcan help this nation better protect itself,NIOSH must have the funding to performthe necessary research for treatmentand health monitoring of thosewho were at ground zero, ASSE said.MSHAIn 2007, the mining industry had 64fatalities. The number of fatalities in 2008is already higher than it was in 2007 atthis time. As of March 27, the year-todatecomparison of fatalities between2008 and 2007 was 11 to 8. At a timewhen Congress is trying to pass morelegislation to add responsibilities MSHAhas not yet met under the MINER Act,the president proposed a $2 million cutfor the agency for FY 2009. Given thewell-recognized need for better trackingcommunications, improved mine rescueplans and higher standards for emergencypreparedness, MSHA will not beable to attain any improvement in minesafety if the funding is not available todevelop better standards. ASSE urged arestoration of FY 2008 funding levels, soMSHA could work vigilantly towardlowering the mining fatality rate.Funny MoneyAll this being said, Congress will haveits say. The process will drag out as longas possible, especially in an election year.In the big picture of Washington, DC,these amounts are small yet not immunefrom political posturing and protuberance.Capable, adequately staffed federalagencies advancing occupational safetyand health in workable ways has longbeen in the interest of ASSE’s members.Funny money proposals will not changethat interest.COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYCOMPLETELY ONLINE DEGREESWHY CSU? OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (Fire Science Concentration) (EnvironmentalManagement Concentration)Get the latest ASSE newsin Society UpdateOTHER DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AVAILABLELearn How Your Employer Can Help You Receive: learningpartners@columbiasouthern.edu ORANGE BEACH, AL 36561ASSE’s e-newsletter is delivered to your e-mail address atthe beginning of each month to keep you informed onthe latest ASSE activities, resources and tools, and membermilestones and accomplishments.Check out the current issue today!www.asse.org/societyupdateRequest 11 at www.psads.info or http://prosafety.hotims.com/19750-1112 PROFESSIONAL SAFETY AUGUST 2008 www.asse.org