Eliminating serious injuries and fatalities in workplaces throughout the U.S. is the vision needed for a successful Department of Labor.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of The Honorable Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of the United States Department of Labor by a vote of 67 to 32. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will now have the opportunity to implement bold strategies to improve the culture of safety at workplaces throughout the nation.
In 2023, there were 5,283 fatalities in occupational settings in the United States. Occupational fatalities and serious incidents cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars each year in wage and productivity losses, medically consulted injuries and administrative expenses. Furthermore, these tragic events forever change the lives of families and coworkers across the nation.
"The confirmation of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer presents a crucial opportunity to elevate workplace safety as a national priority," said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at NSC. "With thousands of workers losing their lives each year, we need decisive action to prevent these tragedies. NSC stands ready to collaborate with the Department of Labor on data-driven policies that eliminate injuries and fatalities, strengthen protections for all workers and ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of each workday."
A successful Department of Labor is a department that grounds itself in the current safety challenges in workplaces. Employers nationwide are grappling with implementing technology, eliminating serious incidents and fatalities, facilitating young worker safety, and reporting on leading indicators for workplace injuries instead of lagging. The Department of Labor must finalize its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Indoor and Outdoor Occupational Settings rulemaking to support occupational safety efforts. Additionally, the Department must initiate proceedings to update hazardous energy control regulations, monitor young worker exploitation, collaborate with the U.S. Department of Transportation on work zone safety, and ensure workplace compliance with current guidance and regulations.
NSC is eager to work with Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and other leadership within the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure workplaces are free of occupational hazards. By collaborating with private industry and safety stakeholders, the Department of Labor will be responsive to workers’ health and safety needs.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadway. We create a culture of safety to protect people from hazard and injury in the workplace and beyond so they can live their fullest lives. Our more than 13,000 member companies and federal agency partners represent employees at nearly 41,000 U.S. worksites.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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