How safe is your office?

More than 70 percent of congressional offices had violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, according to a report by the Office of Compliance, an independent nonpartisan agency established to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act.

Most of the violations, however, are considered minor, according to the report.

Members of Maine’s delegation ‘fessed up to how they fared in the report.

 “We had two power strips that were plugged into other power strips. It’s been corrected,” said a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat representing Maine’s 1st District. The spokesman suggested the reporter check and see if she was in violation of that standard (she was).

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud’s office had no outstanding violations, according to a spokesman, but they were cited during an inspection last year. Michaud is a Democrat representing Maine’s 2nd District.

“Apparently during the inspection last year, the Office of Compliance found that a member of our staff used an extension cord to power a cell phone charger,” the spokesman said. “The staffer removed the extension cord at the time of the inspection.”

Information regarding U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office was unavailable.

Maine’s junior senator is getting an award for maintaining a safe office.

“Sen. Collins takes employee and visitor safety very seriously and our office has always strived to comply with OSHA safety standards,” a spokesman said. “In fact, her office was awarded a Gold Star and our office manager will accept it during a ceremony next week!”

Now you know.

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