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According to "Death Toll on the Job," a report released in April by the AFL-CIO Department of Safety and Health, it would take OSHA 79 years to inspect every private sector workplace in the country. Even if OSHA did have the resources to make the required rounds, employers have little incentive to comply because penalties amount to pocket change. Although the agency can impose fines of up to $70,000 per infraction, the average penalty is less than $700.
Making matters worse, the agency is way behind on passing regulations. For example, OSHA standards address only 400 specific toxic substances even though, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, 75,000 toxic substances are now being used by American industries and handled by workers. And even when OSHA does push for a particular standard, industry lobbyists often fight the effort. Currently, the two forces are battling over a proposed "ergonomics" standard, which would regulate conditions that can lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). RSIs commonly occur in hands, wrists, shoulders, and backs due to overuse or misuse of muscles, tendons, and nerves. You know that funny feeling in your wrist after you've been typing too long? For some, the symptoms are crippling.
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