This ruling by the Department of Labor is pure politically correct malarkey.  OSHA has issued new rules governing the use of bathrooms in the workplace by employees who say they are transgender that allows an individual to use whatever bathroom he or she wants. 

It's a "health and safety issue," don't you know?

Washington Free Beacon:

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued instructions for how private businesses should address a transgender individual who wants to use a different bathroom, arguing that allowing transwomen to use the ladies bathroom is a matter of “health and safety.”

“The core belief underlying these policies is that all employees should be permitted to use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity,” according to the guidance, issued by the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “For example, a person who identifies as a man should be permitted to use men’s restrooms, and a person who identifies as a woman should be permitted to use women’s restrooms.”

“The employee should determine the most appropriate and safest option for him- or herself,” the document said.

The DOL said the guidance is necessary since there are 700,000 transgender adults in the United States, or roughly 0.2 percent of the 318.9 million population.

The document instructs businesses to allow all transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their choice, even if they have only decided to change their name.

“Transitioning is a different process for everyone—it may involve social changes (such as going by a new first name), medical steps, and changing identification documents,” the guidance said.

“Under these best practices, employees are not asked to provide any medical or legal documentation of their gender identity in order to have access to gender-appropriate facilities,” the agency added.

The DOL said allowing a man to use the ladies restroom because he self-identifies as a woman is a matter of “health and safety.”

“Gender identity is an intrinsic part of each person’s identity and everyday life,” the document said under the section “Why Restroom Access Is a Health and Safety Matter.” “Accordingly, authorities on gender issues counsel that it is essential for employees to be able to work in a manner consistent with how they live the rest of their daily lives, based on their gender identity.”

“Restricting employees to using only restrooms that are not consistent with their gender identity, or segregating them from other workers by requiring them to use gender-neutral or other specific restrooms, singles those employees out and may make them fear for their physical safety,” the DOL said. “Bathroom restrictions can result in employees avoiding using restrooms entirely while at work, which can lead to potentially serious physical injury or illness.”

Government has issued a lot of crappy regulations and rules in my time, but this one is the biggest load of crap of all.  What the hell is the problem with asking someone with a penis to use the men's room and someone with a vagina to use the women's bathroom?  Or if a business wants to be hip, why not let transgenders use a separate gender-neutral bathroom? 

The last sentence implying that transgenders not going to the bathroom because of restrictions can lead to "serious" injury is so far out there that you have to wonder what they're smoking over at OSHA.  Name one instance in America where a transgendered person suffered "serious physical injury" because he was afraid to go to the bathroom.  The entire rule is nonsense, and it's ridiculous that OSHA is wasting its time on this idiocy.