OSHA is quiet, but not inactive

March 23rd, 2017 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The Environmental Protection Agency has attracted plenty of media attention in recent weeks due to President Donald Trump's restrictions on public communication and proposed budget cuts. However, it's not the only federal regulator dealing with those concerns. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also been unusually quiet since the new administration took over. While OSHA commonly issues a slate of press releases related to health and safety violations and other topics on a weekly basis, the federal regulator hasn't done so since the change at the White House took place.

OSHA is active but not publicizing its work

As industry news source Manufacturing.net pointed out, OSHA hasn't stopped its enforcement efforts. While the press releases haven't been flowing regularly from the regulator as they once did, official statements by the organization and a trickle of reports from various news agencies indicate OSHA's inspectors are still making site visits and issuing citations when appropriate. An article from The New York Times, also cited by Manufacturing.net, included a statement from an OSHA spokesperson who said the organization continues to function as usual, but didn't comment on the lack of press releases and other pieces of news.

Plenty of speculation about the fate of OSHA has arisen since the change of presidential administrations. While few if any believe OSHA will be completely deactivated, a major shift in how it approaches workplace health and safety violations could be coming. Industry news source Construction Dive spoke with Edwin G. Foulke Jr., former OSHA administrator during the terms of President George W. Bush, who said a shift in strategy may be forthcoming.

"We're going to see balance," Foulke said to Construction Dive. "The overall goal of the government should be to protect citizens, but [it] should also help businesses be successful."

The former OSHA chief said the federal health and safety regulator will likely move to a mixed approach of conducting inspections and working with businesses to correct any potential concerns before a visit where citations are issued takes place. That change ultimately means fewer overall fines and penalties, and is in line with Trump's generally pro-business stance.

"The more we do this type of stuff and create jobs, companies around the world are going to say, 'I can make money there as well,'" Foulke said to Construction Dive.