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House votes down worker safety measure

Rep. Mary Throne
Legislative Service Office
Rep. Mary Throne

An effort to give OSHA the authority to increase fines for worker deaths has been defeated.  The Wyoming House voted down the measure by Cheyenne Democrat Mary Throne. 

Throne says increasing fines could improve worker safety. 

"If a moose is killed out of season you might face a fine of 15-thousand dollars.  If a worker dies on the job, for instance a worker died on the job in 2006, a catwalk wasn’t in place.  A worker fell to his death.  The penalty was 7-thousand dollars.”

But opponents said there is no evidence that the bill would improve workplace safety.  Wyoming is among the national leaders in workplace deaths.

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.