FROLITICKS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that nearly 5,000 workers were killed on the job in the United States in 2015. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency within the U.S. Labor Department, oversees workplace safety in most sectors. Another agency within the Labor Department, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), oversees health and safety within the nation’s most dangerous mines. However, under President Trump, both agencies are under attack. The Trump administration and lawmakers seem to be making good on commitments to roll back occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations on businesses. Both OSHA and the MSHA appear to be prime targets. OSHA is expected to see a major cut to its budget which most likely will result in fewer safety inspectors to do enforcement and proactive work.

This year alone, deaths in U.S. coal mines with ten coal miners killed to date, have surged ahead of last year’s total. The United Mine Workers of America says agency initiatives fall short, noting that federal inspectors who conduct such mine visits are now barred from punishing the owner if they spot safety violations. A number of the government’s Cabinet agencies would see significant budget cuts under the President’s proposal. One of the biggest losers is the Department of Labor.  In the last few months there have been several instances in which workplace safety decisions have been revisited by the Trump administration, with a number of health and safety rules and standards being challenged or overturned.

As an admirer of past U.S. health and safety initiatives, including excellent research undertaken by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the administration’s attacks on these agencies represent a regressive display of terrible policies. There has been great progress in the fields of OHS in recent years, with the U.S. leading the way. For example, the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative is intended as a guide for employers and employer-employee partnerships wishing to establish effective workplace programs that sustain and improve worker health. Workplace injury rates had been declining in recent years as a result primarily of OSHA and MSHA enforcement and education programs.

However, work-related fatalities and injuries are still far too high in the U.S. and elsewhere. Reducing the capabilities of health and safety agencies to do their jobs isn’t going to help matters.  OSHA and the MSHA have worked closely with employer, labour and professional organizations to implement reasonable and cooperative policies and programs.  Yes, there are costs for employers to comply with OHS laws, but there are also direct costs to the country, workers and their families as a result of workplace fatalities and injuries.  In this day and age, there is no reason for a worker not to expect to leave for work in the morning and to return safely at the end of the day.  After all, these are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.  Failure to protect all workers and to go after the bad actors will cost us all in the long run!