The Government Accountability Office has released a report that says some states have failed to meet minimum requirements for health and safety inspections. In response, legislators introduced a bill that would give the Occupational Safety and Health Administration more control over state plans and strengthen penalties for those who violate standards. Experts say that the under funding of OSHA on both state and national levels has impacted how effective inspectors can be. The move comes after an explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant, which was last inspected in 1985.
See "House Bill Would Boost Federal Authority Over Workplace Safety", Kris Maher, The Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2013