What We Built,What We’re Burning: The Dismantling of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Abstract

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) was an essential turning point in reducing workplace morbidity and mortality. It has remained a keystone of worker protection. While the OSH Act has saved an estimated 690,000 lives through its regulations, inspections, research, and training, recent years have seen a new effort aimed at eliminating these successes: the Nullify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act (NOSHA). This bill, originally introduced in 2023, was revived in January 2025. Unlike the bill's first introduction, its second comes during a Presidential Administration that has deregulation as a primary goal, as evidenced by executive orders that support the revocation of regulations at a rapid pace. The barriers protecting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration continue to be removed, threatening the safety of workers across the United States.