Worker safety is in jeopardy if we don’t protect NIOSH

On April 1, 1000’s of Well being and Human Companies staff arrived at work to search out their identification badges did not allow them to into their jobsite.

They had been positioned on administrative depart with a letter of termination set for June 2. Workers on the Nationwide Institute for Occupational Security and Well being had been amongst these affected; 85% of that workforce was eradicated. 

As a nurse practitioner working within the area of occupational well being for 3 a long time and instructing new NPs on this position for twenty years, I’ve seen and skilled firsthand the facility NIOSH has in protecting our nation’s staff wholesome and secure. 

Lately, the date of termination was modified to June 30. NIOSH has been annihilated. Employee security is in peril if we don’t converse up now.

Why does this matter?

There are over 160 million workers within the U.S., in line with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about 48% of the inhabitants. Employees spend most of their time on the job doing mixtures of actions — equivalent to extended sitting, extended kneeling, heavy lifting and being uncovered to toxins — generally with deadly outcomes. In 2023, 5,283 staff died on the job, in line with BLS information.

NIOSH is an company created and funded by Congress. When it began as a part of the Occupational Security and Well being Act in 1970 it had about 1,400 staff across the U.S., in line with the American Industrial Hygiene Affiliation. 

The agency’s budget was only $363 million in fiscal yr 2024, reported Security + Well being Journal. This quantities to slightly over two {dollars} per yr per U.S. employee. 

NIOSH employees do among the most essential public well being and labor security work within the U.S. For greater than 50 years, NIOSH has been an important useful resource for staff to assist guarantee their well being and security at many important work websites. 

For instance, NIOSH inspects and certifies respirators and different private protecting gear that saves numerous building staff’ lives. NIOSH employees assist forestall accidents and diseases and examine hazardous conditions staff face, equivalent to falls and trench collapses. It research the consequences on staff’ publicity to toxins equivalent to silica. 

The information, experience and assets it supplies empower building staff to grasp how one can shield themselves. However with latest cuts, building staff and employers have an excellent likelihood of shedding the event, testing and analysis of future PPE that’s upgraded and authorized. 

Analysis and techniques to forestall opioid overdose and suicides and lack of life attributable to falls won’t exist. This all results in elevated monetary prices for the business and staff.

As a doctoral pupil, my work focuses on building staff. Anecdoteally, I can share findings in my research from consultants that point out productiveness is the main focus as an alternative of employee security within the U.S., whereas in Europe and Canada, employee security is the precedence. 

For staff, their high quality of life, household life and monetary well-being are impacted by the accidents and exposures they maintain at jobsites. This illustrates the continued want for ongoing enchancment in PPE, safer work processes and up to date instruments, which NIOSH and its employees are the one company that may assist us with.

What’s subsequent?

Though it was introduced on Might 14 that 328 NIOSH employees have returned to work, there are practically 600 who haven’t, NPR reported.

We have now till June to reply the query “What’s subsequent?” 

Unions, skilled organizations, facilities doing analysis funded by NIOSH and extra have written letters to President Donald Trump and are taking authorized motion to avoid wasting NIOSH.

If we’re to Make America Wholesome Once more, does that not apply to all U.S. staff? We should act now for this imaginative and prescient to come back true. I problem you to take this subsequent step now for staff’ well being and security.