National COSH Applauds OSHA’s Final “Walkaround Rule”

Updated federal regulations allow workers to choose a representative during inspections

Leaders of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) said that a final “walkaround rule,” announced by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will improve workplace safety and reduce on-the-job hazards, by giving workers the right to a representative of their choice during safety inspections.

The new OSHA rule, which goes into effect on May 1, specifies that workers can select a representative with “knowledge or experience with hazards or conditions in the workplace or similar workplaces, or language or communication skills to ensure an effective and thorough inspection.” Workers can select a representative of a COSH group, a workers’ center, a labor union, an attorney, an industrial hygienist or other person of their choosing to accompany an OSHA compliance officer and assist in gathering authentic information from workers.

From April 21 through 28, National COSH will join the global labor movement in observing Workers’ Memorial Week, in honor of workers who lose their lives on the job and those who become sick or injured at work.  As part of this observance, National COSH will release its annual list of the Dirty Dozen unsafe employers on Thursday, April 25th. Pre-registration for the Dirty Dozen release event can be found here.