BRICK INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF BILL SEEKING FAIRNESS IN WORKPLACE SAFETY ENFORCEMENT

RESTON, Va., June 26, 2003  The Brick Industry Association (BIA) here has expressed its strong support for H.R. 1583, a bill introduced by Rep. Charles Norwood (R-GA) titled "OSHA Fairness.  The bill seeks to improve the ways in which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) executes its enforcement actions, including:

1. empowering OSHA with the authority to extend time limits for an employer to respond to a citation;

2. defining the term "willful violation;

3. bolstering the role played by the Review Commission in interpreting the law; and

4. enabling small employers to more readily recover attorneys' fees.    

In a letter to Mr. Norwood, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, BIA President and CEO Dick Jennison applauded the bill's aims. 

"The Brick Industry Association enthusiastically applauds Mr. Norwood's insightful effort to enhance the degree to which OSHA can aid companies in protecting worker health and safety, said Jennison. "Just as BIA member companies go to great lengths to protect their workers' safety and health, we are mindful of OSHA's need to establish a common-sense basis for compliance and enforcement actions. In this way, brick manufacturers can more efficiently plan for and, ultimately, devote more resources to employees' health and safety in our plants, he said.

BIA is a non-profit trade association representing the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of clay brick. BIA's manufacturers number 40 companies operating nearly 150 plants that manufacture over 85 percent of the brick shipped in the United States and Canada.  BIA also represents 149 U.S. brick distributors. It is estimated that more than 200,000 workers are employed in the manufacture, distribution and laying of brick. Web site: www.gobrick.com.