All of America’s workers want to go home at the end of the day. Every family wants their loved ones to return without injuries. These are not red or blue workers, but red-white and blue residents of a nation who have long recognized the need for laws and policies to ensure work safety.
That is why the International Association of Security Teams (ISEA) was alarmed when a bill was introduced to abolish the Occupational Health and Safety Administration in Congress. In the same way that budget cuts are proposed in Osha.
Some argue that the reduction in funding will promote economic growth, but the opposite is true. The Osha budget will make North -Americans less secure, increasing fatalities and companies load at higher costs.
Since its inception in 1970, Osha has played a crucial role in reducing injuries and victims of work. That year, approximately 14,000 workers died at work. By 2022, despite significantly larger workforce, this number had dropped to 5,486, a decrease of more than 60%. Labor injuries that require time out of work have also dropped from 10.9 percent workers in 1972 to only 2.7 per 100 per 100.
The challenges are maintained. By 2023, there were 4,543 deaths related to preventable work, more than 12 a day. The labor injuries that require medical consultation amounted to more than 4 million. The National Security Council estimated that in 2022, labor injuries cost $ 167 billion, including lost salaries and medical expenses. Each death -related death was an average of $ 1.39 million, while each injury consulted was an average of $ 40,000.
Investing in workplace safety saves lives and money. When companies and policymakers prioritize workers’ safety, reduce liability costs, minimize productivity losses and protect the economy.
For those who argue that Osha is not necessary, we only have to examine the consequences when the safety of the workplace is ignored. A recent Washington Post investigation documented horrible security failures in a west Virginia wood mill, where several workers died. The former employees reported that the owner prioritized security production, dismissing concerns, even after fatal accidents. Although extreme, this example underlines a critical point: when security regulations do not apply, lives are lost. OSHA exists to take responsibility for companies and prevent these tragedies.
Some critics say that Osha suffers growth through heavy rules. In fact, Osha collaborates with companies to improve safety by maintaining competitive ones.
Beyond the application, the safety of the workplace is based on innovation. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) plays a crucial role in the advancement of the research that protects workers. Niosh’s efforts in the development of respiratory protection rules and the improvement of personal protection equipment have safeguarded millions of employees. Research has made progress as a better filtering of face respirators and protection equipment that minimize exposure to toxins in the air.
Niosh must have the resources to continue his mission. A budget of $ 370 million will allow you to advance the security innovations that protect North -Americans.
Given the crucial role of OSHA, ISEA urges Congress to increase its budget to $ 655 million, a modest impetus to improve the agency’s ability to train employers, do inspections and provide education to save life. The Osha budget reduction would increase the deaths of preventable work and change the financial burdens to companies, families and taxpayers. Investment in Osha supports economic growth by reducing workers’ compensation claims, reducing stops due to injuries and fostering a safer and more productive labor.
Cutting the funding of the OSHA or, worse, eliminating the agency, would be a catastrophic error. We need to protect the right of all North -American workers to a safe job, fair wages and a future free from avoidable damage.
