OSHA Nominee Pledges to Rebuild Inspector Ranks After Staffing Drop
Labor secretary nominee Keith Sonderling told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that OSHA is actively rebuilding its inspector workforce, Safety+Health Magazine reports from the July 16 confirmation hearing.
Market Impact
The staffing question, raised by Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), pointed to a real gap: OSHA had 736 inspectors as of last year to cover 11.6 million worksites, down from 846 in February 2024, according to the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General. Kim pressed Sonderling on how shrinking OSHA’s budget squares with improving workplace safety.
Sonderling responded that the agency has hired more than 90 new inspectors and encouraged applicants to check OSHA openings on USAJobs.gov. “We’re replenishing that workforce,” he said, adding that the Mine Safety and Health Administration is seeing similar hiring activity. Sonderling has served as acting labor secretary since Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned on April 20, and the HELP Committee is scheduled to vote on his nomination at 10 a.m. Eastern on July 23.
The hearing also touched on DOL’s proposed independent contractor and joint employer rules. Committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) credited Sonderling with pushing for regulatory clarity on contractor classification and protecting the franchise model, which he said employs more than 9 million Americans. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) took the opposite view, calling the proposed rules “an outright grift” that could cost workers $3.7 billion a year by letting large companies misclassify employees as contractors to avoid minimum wage and overtime obligations.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Expect more site visits over time as OSHA works through its hiring pipeline. With inspector headcount still down from 846 in February 2024 to 736 last year, plus 90-plus new hires now onboarding, enforcement activity should climb from recent lows.
- Review job site documentation now, including hazard communication logs, fall protection plans, and training records, so paperwork is ready if an inspector shows up unannounced.
- Track the independent contractor and joint employer rule fight in Washington. If DOL tightens contractor classification standards, firms that rely heavily on 1099 labor for field crews should reassess worker classification before any rule changes take effect.
- Watch for the HELP Committee’s July 23 vote on Sonderling’s nomination, since confirmation would put him in permanent control of OSHA’s enforcement priorities and budget requests going forward.
- Franchise and staffing-model contractors should note Sen. Cassidy’s comments defending the franchise structure, which he said covers over 9 million American workers, as a signal of where the administration’s rulemaking may land on joint employer liability.
