Worker Health and Safety: An Interview with Jordan Barab

Worker health and safety is facing a political environment of deregulation, budget cuts, and poor surveillance and reporting. Jordan Barab, former OSHA Assistant Secretary and Deputy, investigates and explores these issues in his outstanding blog, Confined Space.

In this interview with Blog Editor Claire Altman, Barab talks about the biggest risks that workers face today, why the cuts are harmful, and why this work matters to population health scientists and, ultimately, to all Americans.

Claire: Could you give me some background on your work on occupational safety and how you got interested in it?

Jordan: I began in 1982 with the American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as a labor economist, but most of my career there was spent on building the AFSCME health and safety program. I later worked at OSHA during the Clinton administration, the Chemical Safety Board focusing on refinery safety, the House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee, and returned to OSHA during the Obama administration as acting Assistant Secretary for the first year and Deputy for the remainder. I worked again in the House of Representatives before retiring. 

Claire: Why do these issues matter to population health scientists?

Jordan: Workers are often the “canaries in the coal mine” for health hazards. They’re on the front lines of exposure to chemicals, heat (increasingly problematic with climate change), and other hazards before these affect the broader environment. Anyone concerned about public health, worker safety, or climate should care about these issues.

Claire: What are the implications of the funding cuts you’ve been writing about?

Jordan: OSHA is already severely underfunded with a $630 million budget. At current capacity, it would take about 185 years to inspect every workplace just once. The Trump administration has proposed an 8% overall cut, with a 25% cut to standard setting and major cuts to enforcement. This would significantly worsen OSHA’s ability to deter unsafe practices, as deterrence depends on both the likelihood of enforcement (already low) and the impact of enforcement (penalties are also low).

Claire: Do you see certain groups or occupations at greatest risk now?

Jordan: Construction is very dangerous, especially for immigrant workers. Healthcare is surprisingly dangerous due to musculoskeletal injuries from lifting patients, chemical/drug exposures, and workplace violence. Transportation, particularly long-haul truck driving, is also high-risk. Hispanic workers are disproportionately represented in workplace fatality statistics, especially in construction.

Claire: What gaps exist in our knowledge due to lack of data or empirical evidence?

Jordan: The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts a census for workplace fatalities, which is fairly accurate. However, injury and illness data is mostly self-reported by employers and significantly underreported. Illnesses are particularly underreported because it’s difficult to link them to workplace exposures, especially for conditions with long latency periods like cancer. Even heat-related illnesses are undercounted because symptoms mimic other conditions or may not appear until after workers have left the workplace.

Claire: What kind of studies do we still need to do?

Jordan: We need more systematic surveillance of worker health and safety in the workplace, especially to capture illnesses and injuries accurately. This comprehensive, consistent surveillance only exists in a few states. The current self-reporting system by employers has been shown to significantly underreport workplace injuries and illnesses.

Claire: What topics are you focusing on in your writing?

Jordan: I’m focusing on funding issues, as agencies like OSHA, MSHA, and NIOSH are operating under continuing resolutions without proper budgets. I’m also tracking the regulatory atmosphere under the Trump administration, which is focused on deregulation rather than adding protections. For example, the MSHA silica standard that was supposed to take effect in April has been repeatedly postponed and is now being “reconsidered.” Specific issues include whether OSHA will issue an effective heat standard and the inadequate regulation of worker exposure to chemicals.

Claire: Can you summarize the work you do on Confined Space?

Jordan: I write Confined Space to inform workers about their rights and tools to protect their safety and health. I also highlight how workplace safety has become a political issue, with elections directly affecting worker safety. Additionally, many journalists read Confined Space for story ideas or background information on workplace safety issues they’re covering.