A workplace safety bill that passed the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor July 21 would put new demands on owners of dental practices, according to an analysis by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
Inspired by the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that killed 29 miners on April 5, HR 5663, the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010, would expand the powers of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) "to investigate, cite, fine, and pursue legal remedies against employers," the AGD said.
The organization said it was part of the Coalition for Workplace Safety, a group of employers and associations that had testified against the bill, calling instead for more workplace safety training and compliance assistance for employers. Tougher enforcement would result in more burden and expense for employers -- including dentists -- without improving safety, the AGD said.
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