Employee Safety Under the Trump and Biden Administrations

Worker safety is a core responsibility of the federal government, typically managed by agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over the past several years, federal policies and approaches to worker safety have evolved, reflecting varied priorities across administrations. Here, we examine how the Trump and Biden administrations addressed key aspects of workplace safety, from OSHA staffing to chemical safety regulations.

OSHA Staffing and Inspection Capacity

One of the primary ways to gauge an administration’s commitment to workplace safety is by examining OSHA’s staffing levels and inspection capacity. Under the Trump administration, OSHA’s compliance staff dropped to around 870 inspectors by 2019, reaching the lowest level in the agency’s history. This reduction limited OSHA’s ability to conduct routine workplace inspections, equating to an average inspection frequency of once every 165 years per workplace.

By the end of 2023, the Biden administration worked on boosting OSHA's workforce, raising the number of compliance officers to around 878, marking an 11% growth. This expansion in personnel led to a significant 30.8% uptick in inspections during fiscal year 2022. The administration's goal was to enhance OSHA's capability to oversee and ensure compliance in various sectors by reinstating its inspection capacity.

Illness and Injury Reporting Requirements

OSHA’s ability to collect data on workplace injuries and illnesses helps it identify hazards and improve safety policies. In 2016, a rule was introduced requiring large employers in high-risk industries to electronically submit detailed injury and illness data. This rule aimed to promote transparency, allowing OSHA and the public to better understand workplace hazards.

The Trump administration rolled back this requirement, removing the mandate for companies to submit detailed logs, which simplified reporting for businesses but limited OSHA’s access to comprehensive workplace safety data. The Biden administration reinstated this reporting requirement in 2024 for companies with over 100 employees in high-risk sectors. This change aimed to enhance OSHA’s ability to track workplace incidents, analyze trends, and refine safety protocols based on data from roughly 50,000 workplaces each year.

Chemical Safety and Hazard Management

The handling of hazardous chemicals and the protection of communities and workers from chemical accidents have also seen significant policy shifts. In 2019, the Trump administration revised the EPA’s Chemical Disaster Rule, reducing certain safety requirements, including worker participation in risk reviews and the need to consider safer technologies. This rollback aimed to streamline compliance processes but decreased the regulatory emphasis on preventive safety measures for chemical risks.

Under the Biden administration, the EPA revisited and strengthened the Risk Management Program Rule in 2024. This updated rule reintroduced elements like worker involvement in hazard analyses and public notification requirements, alongside the assessment of safer technologies. These changes reflect an increased focus on protecting both workers and surrounding communities from chemical-related hazards.

Mine Safety and Silica Exposure

Silica exposure in the mining industry has been linked to serious respiratory illnesses, including black lung disease. During the Trump administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a request for information on silica exposure but did not advance any regulatory updates to address the issue.

The Biden administration, recognizing the growing prevalence of black lung cases, introduced a new silica standard for miners in 2024. This standard aimed to reduce permissible exposure levels to silica dust, thereby addressing a significant health risk for miners. The standard was part of a broader effort to strengthen protections in high-risk industries.

Heat Protection Standards

Heat exposure poses a growing risk to outdoor and unventilated workplaces, and both administrations approached this issue differently. The Trump administration continued general guidance on heat illness prevention but did not pursue formal rulemaking on a national heat standard.

The Biden administration launched an initiative to establish the first national heat standard for workplaces. This rulemaking process included extensive data gathering and stakeholder consultations, aiming to address the hazards posed by rising temperatures, which affect a wide range of industries. By setting nationwide heat protection standards, OSHA sought to provide a uniform approach to mitigate heat-related illnesses and injuries.

Support for Unions and Collective Bargaining

Both administrations addressed workplace safety through policies supporting—or limiting—union influence in workplace safety efforts. Studies have shown that unionized workplaces report fewer safety violations, and unionized sectors often emphasize safety training and worker participation in safety decisions.

The Biden administration placed an increased emphasis on supporting union activity, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, by promoting collective bargaining and worker-involved safety programs. By encouraging union representation in federally funded projects and safety protocols, the administration aimed to integrate worker feedback into safety practices across sectors.

Conclusion

The Trump and Biden administrations each emphasized different priorities in worker safety. The Trump administration generally focused on reducing regulatory requirements to streamline business operations, while the Biden administration has aimed to strengthen workplace protections through increased staffing, enhanced reporting requirements, and more robust safety standards. These contrasting approaches highlight how regulatory priorities and agency support can shape workplace safety policies and impact the health and safety of American workers.