George W. Bush evidently feels that he hasn’t yet been responsible for the deaths of enough Americans. And George W. Bush seems to have realized that, if he plays his cards right, he can continue to be responsible for the deaths of Americans well beyond January 20.

The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze “industry-by-industry evidence” of employees’ exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health.

Public health officials and labor unions said the rule would delay needed protections for workers, resulting in additional deaths and illnesses.

Funny how, for the Bush administration, “strong support from business groups” always trumps everything else.

In case you’re wondering how bad it can possibly be, here’s your answer:

“This rule is being pushed through by an administration that, for the last seven and a half years, has failed to set any new OSHA health rules to protect workers, except for one issued pursuant to a court order,” said Margaret M. Seminario, director of occupational safety and health for the A.F.L.-C.I.O.

That’s quite a record. Not one single new OSHA health rule to protect workers.