Political Quotes

“H.R. 4037 makes two simple but important changes to OSHA's regulation on Hazard Communication. First, H.R. 4037 clarifies the law with regard to the acceptable use of electronic systems for maintaining ``material safety data sheets,'' which employers are required to maintain and make available to employees by the Hazard Communication standard. To anyone who has looked at the amount of information required of the typical business by the Hazard Communication standard, it should be evident that an electronic system of keeping that information is preferable to a paper system. And yet OSHA continues to suggest a preference for paper copies of material safety data sheets by putting conditions on the use of electronic systems that it does not put on paper copies. By encouraging employers, especially small employers, to use electronic systems for maintaining material safety data sheets, H.R. 4037 will make a real impact in reducing OSHA's paperwork burden on employers. Second, H.R. 4037 requires that summary and emergency information be attached to the front page of the material safety data sheet. This is to make the information more useful and useable for employers and employees. Mr Speaker, I want to commend the sponsors of H.R. 4037, Representative Granger and Representative Roemer, for their work on this bipartisan bill, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Ballenger. H.R. 4037 will help make one Federal regulation a little more sensible and compliance a little easier.”