This discussion topic centers around OSHA and the Workers Comp laws. Your written discussion should make your thinking about the readings public in a "one-pager" post. As the name suggests, this post will be one page, 150-250 words and it will describe your thoughts on how the readings are affecting your perspectives on the OSHA and the Workers Comp laws you have studied in Chapter 15 of your materials. This should be done in the form of written discussion and answers to the questions below. Remember, each of you are required to respond to two of your peers' posts as well. Avoid summarizing the text; rather choose specific ideas to explore. Refer to the link to the guidelines for submitting discussion board responses in this module.

Questions to answer and discuss:

1. Despite the combined efforts of employers, workers, unions, safety professionals and regulators, more than 4,500 workers lose their lives and more than four million are seriously injured each year. Tens of thousands more die or are incapacitated because of occupational illnesses including many types of cancer and lung disease. The human toll from this loss is incalculable and the economic toll is enormous. Under OSHA, any employer who willfully violates any standard, rule, or order under section 6 of OSHA, and that violation causes death to any employee, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both (for first-time violators). Given the continuing issues with deaths and injuries, should 1st time violators be punished more? What benefits would result if 1st time violators are fined up to $100,000 and are subject to imprisonment of up to a year? Would this reduce the death rates? If so, how? What suggestions would you give to employers to decrease the death rate?

2. OSHA laws apply to ALL employees, whether they are citizens or non-citizens of the US. Is it ethical, in order to slow illegal immigration, to not give the benefits of the OSHA laws to people who are not here legally? Why and why not?

3. Is it fair to an injured employee to require them to give up their rights to sue an employer if the employee wants workers' comp benefits? Why and why not? If you owned your own business would you have workers' comp insurance and pay for it or just go along and hope nothing happens to your employees since in your experience nothing really happens that is too bad?