The concern of this report was the propriety and legality of the contract between the State Health Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. The OSHA legislation was designed to eliminate occupational hazards by maintaining health and safety regulations for all places of commerce. The contract allowed the Health Department to assist in implementing the provisions of the Act.
The PEER Committee found that the contract lacked specific statutory sanction in Mississippi, and the Attorney General’s office stated that no legal authority for the contract existed. Furthermore, the agreement was contrary to the intent of the Mississippi Legislature. For these reasons, the Committee requested that the contract be canceled immediately.
Since the report, the State Board of Health ceased conducting OSHA inspections as of September 1, 1973. The State Health Officer made a formal request to the U.S. Department of Labor that the contract be canceled on September 1, 1973.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.