Granholm Vetos Bill Weakening OSHA

I wrote last month about the Michigan Senate's contribution to death in the workplace when it passed a bill (Senate Bill 647) making it almost impossible for Michigan OSHA to issue a willful citation. Yesterday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed the bill.

Granholm said the bill is inconsistent with federal safety standards.

"I do not support this effort to hinder the effective and efficient administration of Michigan's workplace safety laws," Granholm wrote in a letter to the state Senate.

Granholm said employees would be discouraged from telling MIOSHA about possible safety hazards. Also, MIOSHA would have a tougher time obtaining accurate and reliable information about workplace safety conditions, she said.