b"7000 Power 8Light Bldg.,Kansas City, Missouri64105 July,1977 OSHA 1.ReducedPaperworkBurden.TheLaborDepartmentannouncedthis monththatit willexemptfirmswith10orfeweremployeesfrompresent record-keepingrequirementsofOSHA.Inaddition,theDepartmenthas proposedtocutinhalfthepaperworkburdenforbusinesseswithmore than10employees.LaborDepartmentofficialsprojectthattheproposed paperworkreductionswillsavebusinesses100milliondollarsannually . Detailsconcerningtheproposedchangesarenotyetavailable.However,wedoknowthatthechangeswillnottakeeffectimmediatelybut ratherwillbeginnextyear.Wewillfurnishyoumoredetailasit becomes available.ThesechangesareinkeepingwiththeAdministration'sgoalof simplifyinggovernmentregulationsandreducinggovernment alpaperwork requirements. 2.LittleImpactonSafety.ArecentsurveybytheBureauofNational Affairs,Inc.ofthe124personnelexecutiveswhoaremembersofBNA'sPer-'-/sonnelPoliciesForumindicatesthat OSHAhashadlittleimpactonactual safetyperformanceintheworkplace.Inresponsetothesurveyquestionnaire,lessthan25%ofthecompaniesrepresentedindicatethatOSHAhas hadanyimpactontheirsafetyrecord.Thepersonnelexecutivesdidreport thattodate,OSHA'smajorimpacthasbeeninthecostsofprotective equipmentandinthepaperworkburden- reportsandrecord-keeping. Althoughonly25% oftherespondingcompaniesindicatedthatt he companysafetyrecordhadbeenaffectedbyOSHA,51% ofthecompanies indicatetheyinstitutednewsafetyrulesandregulationstocomplywith OSHA,48%havepurchasedsafetyequipment,46%haveestablishednewsafety train i n gprog 40%haveinstitutedsafetycommittees,23%havemade rams, changesintheirsafetydepartments,and19%havemadechangesinthe penaltiesforsafetyviolations.61%ofthecompaniesreportedchanges insafetyprocedures(inspections,safetydevices,etc.)asaresultof OSHA.Morethanfour-fifthsoftherespondingcompanieshavehadasafety inspectionbyOSHAorastateinvestigatorsinceOSHAwentintoeffect, withcitationsforviolationsbeingissuedabouthalfthetime.One respondingcompanywhichisinvolvedingovernmentcontractresearchand productioncomplainedofover-inspection.Thecompanyreportedthatit runsbetween15and.20inspectionsperyearbyOSHA,theDepartmentof Defense,theInternalRevenueService,city,countyandstateagenciesand fire,casualtyandproductliabilityinsurancecompanies.Thecompany suggestedthat manyoftheinspectionsareredundantandperhapsthere shouldbegreatercoordinationamongtheinspectingagenciesandentities."