National COSH Reveals 2024 ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of Unsafe Employers
This list includes employers cited for risking the safety of workers and communities through practices resulting in preventable illnesses, injuries and fatalities.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Apr 26, 2024
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) announced the "Dirty Dozen" employers of 2024 during a briefing on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
This list includes employers cited for risking the safety of workers and communities through practices resulting in preventable illnesses, injuries and fatalities. The report is traditionally released in observance of Workers’ Memorial Week, which runs from April 21 through April 28 in 2024 and remembers workers who lost their lives on the job.
In addition to National COSH Co-Executive Director Jessica E. Martinez, speakers include JC Muhammad from The People’s Lobby and Chicago Gig Alliance, Ana Mejia from We Count and Cindy Smith, member of the Union of Southern Service Workers. All three share first-hand accounts of working for companies in the 2024 “Dirty Dozen.”
The National COSH team selects which organizations make the list, with nominations coming from its nationwide network of COSH groups, workers, safety activists, union members, OSH professionals and academic experts. Criteria include severity of risk, safety violations, company standing, and the existence of a campaign for change.
“This is an exciting and challenging time for U.S. workers,” Martinez said. “It’s exciting to see a renewed interest in joining unions, participating in workers’ centers and connecting with advocacy campaigns. The challenge facing workers who are fighting for something better is that conditions in U.S. workplaces are getting worse.”
Martinez said the data shows an increased fatalities, injuries and illnesses within the workplace, with children assigned to unsafe jobs and climate change making heat stress a bigger risk than ever for workers. The “Dirty Dozen” aims to “shine a light on what’s going wrong” and “support workers who are joining together to make it right.”
The full “Dirty Dozen” report is available for download at the National COSH website.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.