Workers Must Be Top Priority as U.S. OSHA Reviews Arizona Compliance, Say Safety Experts

Keeping Arizona workers safe from preventable hazards must be a top priority as the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reviews Arizona’s compliance with federal safety laws, say state and national experts in occupational safety and health.

Federal OSHA is considering a proposal to reconsider and revoke Arizona’s authority to enforce federal safety laws, after a long history of failure by the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) and the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) to properly regulate workplace safety.

Federal officials said on August 10 they will postpone a scheduled hearing on the matter and extend public comment an additional sixty days. Workers, unions and interested parties can submit comments online using Docket No. OSHA-2021-0012. Additional time is required, OSHA stated to review new measures adopted by ICA and ADOSH regarding penalties for workplace safety violations and the adoption of long overdue safety standards to protect workers from COVID-19 and other hazards.

For more information, visit https://www.nationalcosh.org.