OSHA under Obama Administration: "Make no mistake about it- we're back and we're serious, very serious."-Secretary of Labor Solis

The Obama administration has one simple message for industries: Get ready for a more active and more aggressive OSHA. In Hilda Solis's own words, in a June 2009 speech at the American Society of Safety Engineers' annual conference, Solis said: "There is a new Sheriff in town.... Make no mistake about it, the Department of Labor is back in the enforcement business. We are serious, very serious." To demonstrate how serious she was, one of Solis's first move was ordering an enforcement blitz in Texas as that state has the "dubious distinction of having the most worker fatalities in the nation."

The ISHN website states that OSHA will be more aggressive with standards and policing / enforcement than at any time in the last 20 years, since the late 1980s - early 1990s regime of Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole, OSHA chief Jerry Scannell, and OSHA deputy Alan McMillan. Annual inspections along with penalties are said to increase in this new administration. OSHA's new budget increase is said to hire up to 130 new inspector positions-with enforcement getting $25.5 million versus less than a $1 million increase for compliance assistance (ishn.com). New standards will be promulgated for diacetyl flavoring (popcorn lung), combustible dust exposure protection, cranes and derricks, confined space in construction, and rewriting the hazard communication standard in be consistent with new international MSDS laws, commonly called the Global Harmonization System (GHS). In her speech, Solis asserted, “As long as I am Secretary of Labor the department will go after anyone who puts worker lives needlessly at risk.” She also emphasized that construction industry fatalities will be "intolerable."

A new article on Industry Week (published Sept. 30)listed OSHA's top priorities that can be described in two words "strong enforcement." The top priorities consists of some of the following:
1. Implementing a "Severe Violators Inspection Program" that focuses on large employers whose histories of OSHA violations demonstrate, in OSHA's view, that they do not take their compliance obligations seriously and need to be targeted for very aggressive enforcement in order to get the message
2. Working more closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the number of criminal prosecutions for workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses
3.Increasing the number of inspectors; the number of inspections conducted; the number of citations issued, particularly for serious, repeat and willful violations; and the amount of penalties proposed for violations-a more aggressive enforcement approach signaled by OSHA's June 22, 2009, proposal of $1,145, 200 in penalties against a company for combustible dust and other alleged safety violations
4.Decreasing what it believes was the Bush administration's over-reliance on partnerships, alliances and company participation in Voluntary Protection Programs

Sources:
Johnson, Dave. "The next new OSHA arrives (7/8)." ISHN.com. 8 July 2009. Web. 5 Oct. 2009.
Lastowka, James A., and McDermott, Will & Emery, LLP. "Viewpoint -- 'There Is a New Sheriff in Town' -- Get Ready for a More Aggressive OSHA -Some thoughts on getting your house in order for the new management." Industry Week. 30 Sept. 2009. Web. 5 Oct. 2009.