More McWane Violations: High Crimes, Low Fines

There was once a time in America where a small agency called OSHA sent big messages to American industry by handing out million-plus dollar fines to deserving enterprises. Of course that was when we had a pinkos in the White House named Reagan and Bush (I).

NY Times, Tuesday, April 15, 2003:

"McWane Inc., an Alabama-based pipe manufacturer with one of the worst workplace safety records in America, has been fined $196,000 for new violations at its largest plant, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced yesterday."

"Union officials, long critical of OSHA's enforcement efforts, said that yesterday's fines were far too light given McWane's history and the gravity of the new violations.

"These are things that kill people," Margaret Seminario, director of safety and health at the A.F.L.-C.I.O., said of the new violations at Tyler Pipe. "Here you have very, very serious hazards, an employer with an atrocious record. And you get basically a slap on the wrist with respect to enforcement."

More here.