Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2005

H.R. 740, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2005, proposed changes to the structure of the independent agency responsible for adjudicating disputes between the Department of Labor and employers. The bill would have expanded the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) from three members to five and added legal training as a specific qualification for membership. Additionally, it would have allowed the President to extend a member’s term for up to one year while waiting for a successor to be confirmed by the Senate.

The practical impact of this bill was intended to prevent administrative delays and backlogs in workplace safety cases. By increasing the number of commissioners and allowing members to stay in their roles longer during transitions, the bill aimed to ensure the Commission always had enough members present to issue rulings and resolve legal challenges regarding workplace safety violations.