The propriety and legality of the contract between the State Board of Health (SBH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was the concern of an earlier report issued on August 30, 1973. (See report number 7, page 72.) The PEER Committee determined that the contract lacked statutory sanction in Mississippi and that it was not in keeping with legislative intent. Accordingly, the SBH canceled the OSHA contract. This report provided further information concerning the contract.
The SBH was authorized by state law to provide on-site consultation services to help establish safety and health programs in places of commerce. Although the Code section authorized the SBH to receive federal and state grants for these services, it specifically forbade the SBH to administer or enforce the OSHA Act. However, in June 1975 the SBH entered into a contract with the Department of Labor (OSHA) to administer the program of on-site consultation. The Committee recommended that the state Board of Health cancel its contract with OSHA immediately.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.