A Clean, Healthy Workplace

But big business groups claimed the new rule would cost them money and therefore “force” them to cut jobs.  The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), for example, strongly urged OSHA to withdraw the rule, asserting OSHA has not shown that it is necessary.

OSHA has, however, said the rule is necessary to save lives. It has estimated the new standards would prevent 700 deaths a year.

Here’s the coup de grace for fear-mongers like the NFIB.  Ron White, director of regulatory policy at the Center for Effective Government, pointed to an OSHA study projecting that the silica rule would create jobs, not cost them.

“It actually creates jobs; it doesn’t harm jobs,” White said.

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