Report to Legislature Shows Variance Requests Have Plummeted Since 1997

Statistics submitted to the state Legislature April 1 regarding variance applications handled by the OSH Standards Board show that variance requests dropped 64 percent from 1997 to 1999. The board granted the overwhelming majority of the applications, while a number were withdrawn. Some 1999 requests are still pending.The board was required to report by April 1 "on the nature and extent of investigations conducted" regarding variance requests as part of AB 1655, which was signed into l