Gray to Freeland and the GOP: Don't cut occupational safety safety and health regulations

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Randy Gray of Benton for sending us a copy of this letter. He is the son of J.R. Gray of Benton, a former state labor secretary, longtime Democratic state representative and Directing Business Representative (DBR) of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 154 in Calvert City. Chris Freeland, R-Benton, represents the 6th House District, which includes Lyon and Marshall counties and part of McCracken County.

Dear Representative Freeland:

I am compelled to write you concerning the Kentucky Republican Party’s efforts to repeal all of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations as they relate to occupational safety and health. I believe that there are always to two sides to every story. I understand that is widely popular for Republicans to brag about repealing regulations, but on the other side the results can devastating to working families.

I believe that it is essential that we keep our current KAR’s as they relate to occupational safety and health. The fact of the matter is that regulations also protect employers in numerous ways that you and thousands of others who are blinded by the Republican Party’s obsession.

Since my own retirement more than twelve-years ago, I have been working on the other side of the proverbal fence with employers who actually utilize “ALL” regulations to work towards a higher standard. These regulations ensure that employers have the basis for enforcing safety and health rules, policies, and procedures by utilizing the old saying that OSHA makes us do it, when in reality employers want something to hang their hats on.

Since OSHA was adopted and signed by Richard M. Nixon in 1970, workplace fatality has fallen from 14,000 to roughly 5,300 per year. While one workplace fatality is too much, the fact that a 62% reduction is a great result.

I know from my experiences in both the governmental sector for twenty-five years working as a Kentucky OSHA Compliance Officer, and now as private consultant that there is no greater accomplishment than saving the lives of everyone including our United States workforce, and especially our Kentucky occupational workforce.

Both federal and state statues provides employers a baseline as a place to start in their real efforts to not only promote and prevent occupational workplace fatalities, but to make major strides in exceeding any and all applicable regulations. It is no mistake when the regulations ensure the safety of all employees that when they arrive at work with their whole intact bodies, and internal organs, and the leave work each day in the same condition has a cumulative result of higher yearly profits.

Overall, the benefit has been greatly reduced workers’ compensation cost, greater production because an accident-free workplace is always a more productive workplace. I can also attest to the fact that today as I have worked in approximately 90 expert witness cases, that these regulations have actually helped employers in defense cases when these regulations were used to defend them against the actions of another less safe employer’s actions who failed to ensure the same level work and philosophy of going the extra mile for workplace safety.

I strongly believe that it is a critical mistake for the Kentucky Republican lead House and Senate to repeal the Kentucky Administrative Regulations “KARs” because their hidden and unknown benefits will ultimately save lives and keep the crucial bottom line of employers more profitable.

Best regards,

Randy Gray, CHST, CSHM, CSHO-S (RET), GSP, OHST, B.S., M.S.

President / CEO of Grayhawk Advantage, Inc., dba

Grayhawk Safety & Health Consulting Company

Forensic Safety & Health Expert Witness

Retired OSHA Compliance Officer Specialist

Institute for Safety & Health Management “ISHM” Board Member