Biden’s OSHA Pick Signals a New Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Joe Biden today nominated Doug Parker, the head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, to lead the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Juley Fulcher, worker health and safety advocate for Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“Public Citizen applauds the nomination of Doug Parker to head OSHA. In California, Parker has distinguished himself as a highly skilled leader during the COVID crisis. He also worked in the Mine Safety and Health Administration during the Obama administration, and his experience and commitment to workers will serve OSHA well.
“Under the Trump administration, OSHA lost its way. As workplaces became super-spreaders of the coronavirus, we saw the critically important role OSHA must play in protecting workers. Unfortunately, we also saw what failure looks like, since the agency did not step in to safeguard employees from coronavirus exposure, nor has it addressed other blatant hazards like heat stress exposure.
“But it’s a new day at OSHA. Parker’s leadership, in conjunction with Biden’s focus on supporting our workforce, promises to return OSHA to full implementation of its purpose – putting the safety of workers first.”