The legislation from Rep. Andy Biggs will not move forward, an employment lawyer said, but other new policies could affect the federal safety agency.

New legislation designed to do away with OSHA at a federal level will not move forward, an employment attorney said.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., last month proposed the Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, which would abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that created OSHA. 

Biggs introduced similar legislation in 2021, which stalled out after it was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

“OSHA’s existence is yet another example of the federal government creating agencies to address issues that are more appropriately handled by state governments and private employers,” Biggs said in a statement in 2021.

Phillip Russell, Tampa, Florida-based OSHA and employment lawyer for Ogletree Deakins, said that the new bill will not pass, as OSHA plays a vital role in workplace safety.

“I think that’s got zero chance of that thing ever seeing the light of day,” Russell said. “I believe the agency serves an important role, but it just needs to be more focused, it needs to stay within its statutory authority, and it needs to be effective.”

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Source : https://www.hrdive.com/news/osha-abolish-zero-chance-trump-labor-changes/739668/