Press Releases

“Today we honor the men and women who have lost their lives on the job. As we pay tribute to those who have died while trying to make an honest living, we must also strengthen our resolve to fight to ensure that all Americans work in safe environments,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. “As the Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I am committed to finding policy solutions that prevent tragic workplace fatalities.”

Just one week ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the rate of fatal work injuries reached a seven-year high of 4,821 in 2014. Older workers and people who work in the oil and gas extraction field also experienced record high fatalities that year.

While some deaths are, unfortunately, to be expected, particularly in high-risk industries, they should not occur in record-breaking numbers. Unfortunately, the Occupational and Health Administration, which is the Labor Department agency tasked with protecting the health and safety of workers, faces several obstacles that hinder its ability to effectively enforce the rules that protect and promote workplace safety.

Budget constraints are chief among those obstacles. According to the AFL-CIO’s annual report, Death on the Job, because of OSHA’s limited resources there are only 1,840 federal and state inspectors available to inspect 8 million workplaces. That means it would take OSHA a whopping 150 years to visit each Florida workplace just once.

Last month, Congresswoman Wilson joined the Education and Workforce Protections Committee’s Ranking Member, Virginia Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott, to lead a letter requesting increased funding for OSHA to ensure more workplaces meet the standards of safety that Americans deserve.

“I stand in strong support of efforts to improve worker safety and eliminate preventable tragedies,” said Rep. Wilson. “I urge all of my colleagues to work with me to help OSHA enhance and expand its ability and obligation to promote and protect every American worker’s health and safety on the job.”

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.