Under Trump, We've Had Fewer Federal OSHA Inspections and More Workplace Fatalities

The Trump administration has drastically cut back on OSHA enforcement activities and put working Americans at risk, according to a new report from the National Employment Law Project (NELP). 

In the past three years, considerably fewer OSHA workplace inspections have been conducted than in any three-year period during the Obama or Bush administrations. In addition, OSHA now has fewer inspectors on staff to hold companies responsible for health and safety standards than at any time in the last 40 years. Unsurprisingly, workplace fatalities and catastrophes have increased in that same time period.

NELP also reports that many of the inspections being done are rushed and are not actively focusing on the more serious workplace hazards, such as chemical exposures, workplace violence, dangerous heat, ergonomics, process safety management, and refinery hazards.