Worker Protections Rolling Back Under Trump

Under President Donald Trump, federal occupational safety rules are being altered or rolled back. With the successor to David Michaels – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration chief under Obama – yet to be named, a rule meant to protect workers from beryllium was suddenly changed in a manner that may exempt major industries. The agency has also put off enforcing a respiratory hazard related to silica. Trump’s budget proposal eliminates the Chemical Safety Board, which investigates chemical plant accidents, and an OSHA grant program that provides training in industries with workers who are not fluent in English. “The President and his administration care very much about worker safety, but believe the Obama administration’s approach was counterproductive, and we think we can do better,” a White House spokesman told the New York Times.