Doug Parker, nominated to lead OSHA, may bring brighter future for worker health

Doug Parker, nominated to lead OSHA, may bring
brighter future for worker health, says National COSH.

Safety advocates call for immediate release of
COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

LOS ANGELES – The nomination of Doug Parker to lead the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has safety advocates feeling hopeful about the future landscape of workers’ safety and health, said National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) co-executive director Jessica Martinez.

“With his broad experience as an advocate for union mine workers, head of National COSH affiliate Worksafe, and leader of one of the nation’s largest state workplace safety agencies at CAL/OSHA, we are optimistic that Doug will restore faith in an agency tasked with implementing and enforcing safety standards during this critical time for U.S. workers and families,” said Martinez.

“At CAL/OSHA, Doug played a key role in developing a statewide COVID-19 safety standard,” said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, also a co-executive director of National COSH. “Workers will be looking to him to take immediate action to enact a nationwide COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). As the pandemic continues to surge, OSHA must act immediately to protect workers, with a standard that requires full worker involvement in creating COVID-19 protection plans in all workplaces.”

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National COSH links the efforts of local worker health and safety coalitions in communities across the United States, advocating for elimination of preventable hazards in the workplace. For more information, please visit coshnetwork.org. Follow us at National COSH on Facebook, and @NationalCOSH on Twitter.