A new white paper published by the nonprofit Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) suggests that Congress should make wide-ranging reforms to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.

According to the organization, the 1970 law “brought significant gains in worker safety, but it has not proved nimble enough to achieve its purpose of providing safe and healthful workplaces.”

Report co-author Thomas McGarity, a law professor and CPR board member, writes, “Workers are much safer today than they were decades ago, but thousands still die from workplace injuries every year. Congress needs to let go of the status quo and enact broad reforms that will save lives.”

The CPR suggests allowing harmed workers to directly sue employers, increasing criminal and civil penalties, strengthening education and training requirements, requiring corporate officers to report dangers to workers, and increasing OSHA’s budget through user fees.