Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024. Redmond discussed the rise of workplace injuries involving minority workers and why there have been so many issues getting employers to provide proper protections for workers.
Over the years, the challenge of protecting workers through unions has grown more difficult, Redmond said. The AFL-CIO released its report on workplace safety and death in the workplace. Redmond talked about some of the shocking data that was found through the cooperation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He said there are several funding issues for OSHA, which leads to fewer inspectors to keep workplaces safe, and while there have been recent efforts to fix the funding in the federal government, it’s not enough.
Redmond discussed the rise in death and injuries in the workplace among black and immigrant workers. Several times employers place their minority workers on the more hazardous projects without adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), he said. According to the report, Agriculture, Mining and Construction were among the top five most hazardous industries in 2023. Until workers are properly protected and employers are held accountable, there likely won’t be any improvement in workplace safety.
Despite all the efforts to improve workplace safety, there have been several employers that have sought out shortcuts in the process. While unions, like the United Steelworkers and Iron Workers Union, have been able to put safety at the forefront of their members’ minds, the employers continue to escape punishment due to a lack of deterrents. Redmond said OSHA needs better funding to hire the inspectors needed to catch employers in the act of violating workplace safety, but there also needs to be stricter penalties for the violations. With a focused effort and cooperation between lawmakers and labor, Redmond hopes there will be an improvement in safety.
To hear more on workplace safety and Death on the Job, The Toll of Neglect, 2024, listen to the show above.