Review Commission May Stop Reviewing

Dec. 8, 2000
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission may soon be one commissioner shy of the quorum needed to review contested OSHA cases.

The departure last week of Gary Vissher from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) means it may soon be one commissioner shy of the quorum it needs to review contested OSHA enforcement actions.

The commission currently has two members, Chairman Thomasina Rogers and Stuart Weisberg. But Weisberg is a "recess appointment" who was never confirmed by the Senate.

This means that when the current Congress goes into recess, his term will expire, leaving Rogers as the sole member on the commission.

A minimum of two commissioners is necessary in order to conduct reviews, although OSHRC''s public information officer, Linda Whitsett, says Rogers can continue to place cases on the calendar if she is the only commissioner.

President Clinton may decide to replace Weisberg by making another recess appointment after Congress leaves town and before the new president is inaugurated.

The last time the Republicans won the White House from the Democrats it took approximately four months to get a new commissioner appointed and approved by the Senate, Whitsett said.

Vissher, a Republican, was appointed by Clinton and joined the commission July 4, 1999.

His term was to expire in April of 2001. Whitsett said Vissher has accepted a position at the Iron and Steel Institute, a Virginia-based trade association.

Weisberg''s upcoming departure will be welcomed by industry groups who opposed his appointment because they believed he too often took an anti-business position on cases before the commission.

by James Nash

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
Learn about lone working laws in the US, key hazards and risks, and get actionable advice on how to keep your lone workers safe.
June 23, 2025
Chemical substitution can quickly get messy, with unclear steps and the risk of swapping one hazard for another. This checklist helps you avoid costly mistakes, prioritize which...
June 23, 2025
A mature approach to health and safety means making safety a core part of your culture, where everyone plays a role and performance is measured by more than just numbers. In this...
June 23, 2025
Behavior-based safety focuses on observing and encouraging safe behaviors to reduce workplace risks. Experts explain how strong safety culture, clear methods, and digital tools...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!