Monday, October 25, 2021

Press Contacts: 

Roger Kerson, 734.645.0535; roger@nationalcosh.org

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Senate must vote swiftly to confirm Doug Parker as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, say leaders of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH).

“Doug Parker has broad experience as an advocate for union mine workers, head of National COSH affiliate Worksafe, and leader of one of the nation’s largest state workplace safety agencies at CAL/OSHA. We are optimistic that he will restore faith in an agency tasked with implementing and enforcing safety standards during this critical time for U.S. workers and families,” said Jessica Martinez, co executive director of National COSH.

A vote on Parker’s nomination is scheduled for this coming Monday, October 25th in the U.S. Senate.  If confirmed, he will serve as head of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“It’s critically important for OSHA to have a permanent leader, confirmed by the U.S. Senate,” said Martinez. “Tens of millions of workers are still facing the threat of COVID-19 on a daily basis.  Meanwhile, as many as 100,000 workers die every year from workplace trauma and exposure to long-term occupational hazards, and millions more suffer serious illnesses and injuries.”

“After a catastrophic failure to respond to worker complaints and a wave of workplace deaths from COVID in 2020, US OSHA has taken important steps in the right direction this year,” said Martinez.  “Much more work remains to be done to reduce risks and improve safety in our workplaces.  By voting to confirm Doug Parker, the U.S. Senate is one way to demonstrate a commitment to protecting workers and enforcing our nation’s safety laws.”

During the four years of the Trump Administration, there was never a  permanent, Senate-confirmed assistant secretary of labor of occupational safety and health.