Last month, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) introduced H.R. 86, the Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, which would abolish OSHA and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that created the agency. The bill has no co-sponsors.
The bill would implement an unprecedented change by eliminating a core branch of the Department of Labor, thereby passing the responsibility for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards entirely to individual states.
“The idea of abolishing OSHA is not only misguided but dangerous, stripping away protections that have been essential for worker safety,” said Marco Giamberardino, senior vice president for government and public affairs at NECA. “Congressman Biggs’ bill will never see the light of day in Congress, much less become law.”
According to the agency’s website, “OSHA’s mission is to assure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. OSHA carries out its mission by setting and enforcing standards; enforcing anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act and other federal whistleblower laws; providing and supporting training, outreach, education, and assistance; and working collaboratively with our state OSHA programs as well as ensuring that they are at least as effective as federal OSHA, furthering a national system of worker safety and health protections.”
Biggs introduced a similar bill in 2021, but it stalled out in the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Whether or not the bill passes, the current administration’s priorities will almost certainly affect the agency’s rulemaking and enforcement efforts, and potentially staffing levels as well.
Leadership for OSHA and its parent agency, the Department of Labor, remains unconfirmed as of Feb. 14. President Trump tapped David Keeling, former safety executive for Amazon and UPS, to head up OSHA as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Secretary of Labor. The nomination hearing for Chavez-DeRemer was postponed until Feb. 19, 2025, due to winter weather.
About The Author
Colleen Beaty
Senior EditorColleen Beaty is senior editor at ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine, where she has worked since 2020. She has been writing about topics such as outside line work, wildlife and habitat conservation for more than 18 years. In her role with ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, she primarily works with the editorial team to fine-tune stories for the magazines and curate content for ECmag.com. She can also be found hosting ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's webinars. She holds a BS in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware.
Colleen is fueled by tea (especially chai), and can often be found cross-stitching or birding in her spare time (but not both at once).
Reach her on LinkedIn or at [email protected].
