Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta recently told a Congressional committee that he expected OSHA inspections to increase soon.
Newly hired inspectors are getting up to speed, Acosta said, and when deployed, will step up inspections. OSHA inspections exceeded 32,000 in 2017 and 2018, more than the 31,948 total in 2016, despite attrition of inspectors at the agency.
OSHA has a relatively flat budget proposal for 2020, but Acosta cited an increase in enforcement funding (around $3.8 million more for federal enforcement). Acosta pointed to a decrease of 43 workplace fatalities from 2016 to 2017 – the most recent data available – and more than 40,000 fewer workplace injuries.
But OSHA conducted 929 fatality/catastrophe investigations in 2018, the most in a decade. That may indicate an increase in fatalities when the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, likely in December.
Related Stories
| Jan 8, 2015
Construction industry could be hurt by non-renewal of terrorism insurance bill
Insurance industry experts say without federal terrorism reinsurance in place for 2015, resulting canceled property/casualty insurance coverage and market chaos could be disruptive to the economy.
| Jan 2, 2015
Ohio’s Licking County to hire construction stormwater runoff specialist
Formed to focus on agriculture, the Licking County (Ohio) Water and Soil Conservation District has branched out to oversee construction sites.
| Jan 2, 2015
Standards groups join forces to spur more sustainable parking facility design
The International Parking Institute, Green Parking Council, and Green Building Certification Institute have joined forces to promote the design of more sustainable parking facilities.
| Dec 23, 2014
EPA okays coal ash recycling in construction materials
The Environmental Protection Agency ruled that the use of coal ash produced in power plants can continue to be incorporated into construction materials.
| Dec 23, 2014
Dunkin’ Donuts launches green building certification for its restaurants
Dunkin Donuts has launched a green building certification program to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants.
| Dec 23, 2014
EPA releases WaterSense draft specification for flushometer-valve toilets
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program has released a draft specification for water-efficient flushometer-valve toilets.
| Dec 23, 2014
American Iron and Steel Institute publishes design guide for new profiled steel diaphragm panels standard
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) published AISI D310-14, “Design Examples for the Design of Profiled Steel Diaphragm Panels Based on AISI S310-13.”
| Dec 18, 2014
New federal regulations impact construction firms doing business with Uncle Sam
Federal contractors may be subject to several new rules in 2015 that impact how they are selected for contracts and how they do business with the federal government.
| Dec 18, 2014
ASHRAE/IES energy standard could become more applicable for global use
A proposed addendum to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings would make the standard more applicable for use around the world.
| Dec 18, 2014
Boston testing mobile building permit tracking app
The app called Permit Finder could free city employees from having to respond to the 30 to 40 permit status-related calls they receive each week.
