Proposed House bill will change worker safety at DOE sites

In April 2012 the USW became aware of proposed legislation in the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee that, if it becomes law, would significantly change health and safety within the US Department of Energy, specifically at those facilities covered by the National Nuclear Security Administration. The proposed bill would shift oversight of worker safety at these facilities from the DOE to the NNSA.  

If this bill moves forward as written, USW members at DOE sites will be affected. Some DOE sites and their contractors will no longer be covered by the DOE safety regulations.  Other DOE sites will still be covered under the same DOE safety and health regulations and enforcement, but DOE will likely have fewer resources for worker health and safety.  

The USW and other stakeholders have weighed in to express our concern with this proposed bill.

Click here to read the USW letter to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Click here to read the USW letter to the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.