Viewpoint
Defending OSHA and a Call to Action Against Funding Cuts
Every worker in America wants to come home whole at the end of the day. Every family wants their loved ones to return uninjured. These are not red or blue workers, but rather red-white-and-blue residents of a nation that long ago recognized the need for laws and policies to ensure workplace safety.
That’s why the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) was alarmed when a bill to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was introduced in Congress. Equally concerning are proposed budget cuts to OSHA.
Some argue that reducing funding will spur economic growth, but the opposite is true. Gutting OSHA’s budget will make American workers less safe, increase workplace fatalities and burden businesses with higher costs.
Since its creation in 1970, OSHA has played a crucial role in reducing workplace injuries and fatalities. That year, approximately 14,000 workers died on the job. By 2022, despite a significantly larger workforce, that number had fallen to 5,486—a decrease of over 60%. Workplace injuries requiring time away from work have also dropped from 10.9 per 100 workers in 1972 to just 2.7 per 100 today.
Challenges remain. In 2023, 4,543 preventable work-related deaths occurred—more than 12 per day. Workplace injuries requiring medical consultation totaled over 4 million. The National Safety Council estimated that in 2022, work injuries cost $167 billion, including lost wages and medical expenses. Each work-related death averaged $1.39 million, while each medically consulted injury averaged $40,000.
Investing in workplace safety saves lives and money. When companies and policymakers prioritize worker safety, they reduce liability costs, minimize productivity losses and protect the economy.
For those who argue that OSHA is unnecessary, we need only examine the consequences when workplace safety is ignored. A recent Washington Post investigation documented horrific safety failures at a West Virginia lumber mill, where multiple workers died. Former employees reported that the owner prioritized production over safety, dismissing concerns—even after fatal accidents. While extreme, this example underscores a critical point: When safety regulations are not enforced, lives are lost. OSHA exists to hold companies accountable and prevent such tragedies.
Some critics claim OSHA stifles growth through burdensome regulations. In reality, OSHA collaborates with businesses to improve safety while keeping them competitive.
Vital Role of NIOSH
Beyond enforcement, workplace safety relies on innovation. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) plays a crucial role in advancing research that protects workers. NIOSH’s efforts in developing respiratory protection standards and improving personal protective equipment have safeguarded millions of workers. Research has led to advancements like better filtering facepiece respirators and protective gear that minimizes exposure to airborne toxins.
NIOSH must have the resources to continue its mission. A budget of $370 million will allow it to advance safety innovations that protect American workers.
Given OSHA’s crucial role, ISEA urges Congress to increase its budget to $655 million—a modest boost to enhance the agency’s ability to train employers, conduct inspections and provide life-saving education. Cutting OSHA’s budget would increase preventable workplace deaths and shift financial burdens onto businesses, families and taxpayers. Investing in OSHA supports economic growth by reducing workers’ compensation claims, decreasing downtime due to injuries and fostering a safer, more productive workforce.
Cutting OSHA’s funding or, worse, eliminating the agency, would be a catastrophic mistake. We must protect the right of every American worker to a safe workplace, fair wages and a future free from preventable harm.
