While some people may argue that OSHA's regulations are burdensome and overly bureaucratic, they have helped reduce workplace accidents and therefore reducing absenteeism and insurance payouts. Manufacturers and businesses, large and small, benefit. In fact, there is proof that OSHA oversight is having an effect on workplace safety: "The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 4.3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illness in 2004, down from 4.4 million in 2003" (Genn 2006 1). A recent bill in Congress sponsored by Senator Enzi (R., Wyoming) is widely praised for making OSHA more efficient: "The National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business advocacy group with 600,000 members, called Enzi's bills a "welcome relief for our nation's small job creators, for whom OSHA's burdensome regulations and punitive citations are cumbersome, confusing and often blatantly unfair" (Genn 2006 3).
             As a cereal manufacturer, there are any number of reasons compliance with OSHA standards is vital to business success: In a highly competitive market, the loss due to accidents or illness and payment of health benefits may be costly. Assuring workers that safety regulations are stringent and must be followed also assures them that they are working in a safety- first environment and that every effort is made to keep them safe. This includes any and all chemicals that may be used, even such health standards as bathroom accessibility (all part of OSHA regulations). Worker satisfaction, when it comes to their well-being and safety is a most important part of eliminating the wastefulness of employee turnover and bringing new hires up to speed. For any employer, safety and health cannot be relegated to second thoughts. Like it or not, the Federal government, through OSHA, has created an oversight regulator that protects you as well as your employees from danger, accidents, and preventing injury and even potential fataliti...