Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), held a briefing Monday to discuss President Bush’s fiscal 2008 budget request for the organization, expresing confidence the proposed budget would help the agency achieve its goals of creating a safer work environment.
The proposed budget of $490.3 million is a $17.9 million increase over 2007.
“We are proposing to increase resources supporting the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) by more than $4.6 million,” Foulke said. “VPP recognizes exemplary worksites for their enhanced safety and health performance. This translates into substantial benefits for both employers and employees, including significant reductions in injury and illness rates which have proven to deliver millions of dollars in cost savings for participants.”
The agency has also planned 37,700 workplace inspections through 2008, with an emphasis on the industries with high rates of injuries and illnesses, as well as high immigrant populations, such as meat packing, poultry and construction.
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