Let us take, for example, the pool and spa industry. If a dealer services a pool, they must comply with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. Added to this, there is the Department of Transportation's shipping papers and the Department of Agriculture's specialized documentation requirements. In sum, the government requires similar and duplicate information from the same company in a different format to several regulatory agencies, which is a headache for small business. Nevertheless, the fines for noncompliance with any of the above could exceed the company's income for the year.
Duplication is another serious concern.
Agencies must seek ways to eliminate duplication of paperwork. The paperwork requirements for filing mandatory emergency plans is an excellent example. As you know, many agencies require emergency plans, such as a plan for hazardous waste, a fire report, a leak report or a stormwater plan. As one small business owner recently informed me, he must maintain nine notebooks each containing a different emergency plan. Inevitably, the paperwork due dates are all different and require him to keep a separate calendar simply dedicated to these dates.