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Worker Protection: OSHA Inspections at Establishments Experiencing Labor Unrest

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Aug. 31, 2000
Report No. HEHS-00-144
Subject
Summary:

During fiscal years 1994 through 1998, establishments experiencing labor unrest were about 6.5 times more likely to be inspected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The statutory requirement that OSHA investigate valid complaints and OSHA's policy to investigate a fatality or catastrophe may be related to the higher rate of inspection for establishments experiencing labor unrest. About 68 percent of approximately 1,900 OSHA inspections done each year resulted from complaints, fatalities, or catastrophes. About 76 percent of the establishments with labor unrest inspected by OSHA for fiscal year 1994 through 1998 were unionized. OSHA may delay programmed inspections during periods of labor unrest, which would prevent OSHA inspectors from witnessing actual work operations, but OSHA rarely delays such inspections because inspections resulting from valid complaints, fatalities, or catastrophes must be performed, regardless of whether labor unrest exists.

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