Workers Speak Out at OSHA's First Workers' Voice Summit.

Abstract

The inaugural Workers' Voice Summit was held in Washington DC in 2022. Worker advocates from across the country spoke directly with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) about their concerns and ideas for solutions moving forward. Worker advocates shared their experiences with ineffective OSHA enforcement and a lack of accountability for poor employer behaviors. National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) network members developed priorities in advance of the summit that laid out a path for progress. Priorities included: engagement of workers and advocates as collaborators with OSHA; protection for workers from being silenced due to immigration status; enabling workers to fully participate in workplace investigations and enforcement proceedings; protection for temporary workers; and collaboration with state and federal agencies to maximize worker protections. The summit was a good start and worker advocates are prepared to keep pushing.