Monday morning musings for workplace watchers
DOL’s Guide for the World Cup| Chemical Safety Board Cuts
Parker Purifoy: The Department of Labor has assembled a guide for companies in US cities that are hosting FIFA World Cup games this summer, another signal the agency is leaning toward compliance assistance rather than enforcement.
The DOL put out a notice of resources on its website last Friday, including links to a compliance assistance portal, guides on applicable wage and hour laws, and contact information for the agency’s regional offices for employers in the restaurant and hospitality industries that “anticipate serving World Cup fans.”
“The World Cup presents an excellent opportunity for businesses and workers to welcome fans from all over the world,” acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said in a statement. “Employers and their representatives can and should take advantage of the many free resources we provide to ensure workers receive all they are owed and that their businesses compete on a level playing field.”
The department’s Wage and Hour Division also recently announced a partnership with Kansas to help strengthen worker outreach and legal compliance. Kansas City is one of 11 US cities that will host World Cup games this summer.
This is the first World Cup where FIFA agreed to integrate a human rights framework to guide the host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico in abiding by labor standards before and during the competition.
Increased scrutiny on the World Cup follows accusations by civil rights groups that FIFA and Qatar failed to rectify and remedy workers’ rights violations in the years leading up to and following the 2022 tournament. FIFA’s framework places particular emphasis on human trafficking, unionization rights, workplace violence, and child labor violations in workplaces during the North American tournament this year.
Several states hosting 2026 games, including New Jersey, and Washington, have released information webpages on state labor standards and violation reporting channels. Washington’s attorney general said in a press release last week that the state’s Department of Labor & Industries, and Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards would work together to ensure rapid response to labor complaints and enforcement of the law in “high violation industries.”
The DOL’s notice last week struck a different tone, urging employers to use the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, an initiative that allows companies to self-report wage and hour violations in exchange for immunity from certain penalties and department litigation. The PAID program has been criticized by worker advocates for allowing companies to get off the hook for breaking the law, but its proponents say it encourages employers to do proactive audits and rectify errors.
Tre’Vaughn Howard: House Republicans want to scale back funding by more than 40% for the federal watchdog that investigates chemical disasters and hazardous incidents.
The House appropriations panel responsible for funding for the Department of the Interior and other agencies, including the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board recently approved a bill that allocates roughly $8.2 million to the CSB for next fiscal year, a nearly $6 million cut.
The board investigates chemical accidents and makes recommendations for agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, companies, trade associations, and labor unions to prevent similar mishaps.
The Trump administration has proposed to eliminate CSB several times.
A reduction in funding would require the CSB to cut staff, limit its ability to hire new personnel and update its investigation processes with new technology, attorneys and safety advocates say.
“Cutting the budget by 40% would have a very harmful effect on the ability of CSB to conduct its central work,” said Rick Engler, a former board member for CSB. “At a time where chemical plant disasters and major evacuations are in the public’s mind it’s not the time to cut the CSB’s budget.”
The CSB is investigating a chemical tank implosion in Washington that left at least eight people dead.
A spokesperson for the CSB didn’t respond to a request for comment.
While the CSB doesn’t issue safety citations, it’s responsible for investigating the root causes of major chemical incidents with the goal of reducing workplace dangers. Recommendations by the board play an important role in companies complying with OSHA’s PSM standard, which sets the requirements for a comprehensive manage program for highly hazardous chemicals.
OSHA’s PSM standard requires a written procedure for maintenance activities and training employees on emergency operations—among other things.
Jordan Barab, who served as deputy assistant secretary for OSHA during the Obama administration, said the paper plant catastrophe in Washington demonstrates the need for the CSB to be fully funded.
“The amount saved is barely even couch change in the federal budget,” said Barab. “They’re just doing this to throw a bone to Trump and make it seem like they take his ridiculous budget proposal somewhat seriously.”
The board is supposed to have five members, but it hasn’t been fully staffed since 2011. A team of chemical and mechanical engineers, as well as industrial safety experts, make up the agency’s investigation arm to identify deficiencies in safety management systems or any factor that would’ve prevented an accident.
During investigations, which typically take between six months and a year to complete, CSB personnel will confer with stakeholders and workers in order to publish its recommendations.
Despite threats of budget cuts, the board’s two remaining Biden-appointed members, Steve Owens and Sylvia Johnson recently urged the Trump Administration to preserve a Biden-era chemical disaster rules that require mandatory audits at plants with prior accidents.
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