Safety Community Urges Congress: Keep Worker Protections in Full Effect
Leading safety organizations are urging Congress and the White House to avoid disruptions to OSHA, NIOSH, and other critical safety agencies, warning that a government shutdown would stall essential protections for millions of workers.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Sep 30, 2025
A coalition of occupational safety organizations today called on federal leaders to ensure that agencies like OSHA, MSHA, and NIOSH remain fully operational, arguing that worker safety must not be sidelined during governmental disputes.
In a joint statement, the safety community emphasized that these agencies are responsible for setting standards, conducting inspections, approving protective devices, and enforcing regulations that safeguard millions of workers across industries. They warned that a government shutdown or funding impasse would stall these essential activities and leave workers at greater risk.
“Shutting down the government does not make workplaces safer,” the organizations declared. “It leaves oil field ‘roughnecks,’ construction crews, nurses, and countless other essential workers without the protections they need and deserve.” The statement urged Congress and the White House to finalize fiscal 2026 appropriations without compromising worker safety programs.
Among the signatories are the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), National Safety Council (NSC), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), and others. ISEA President Cam Mackey said the message is simple: worker safety cannot wait.
The coalition emphasized that even if the broader political debate over budgets or policy is contentious, those discussions should not delay or interrupt core workplace protections. They called on all branches of government to prioritize public health and worker safety above partisan gridlock.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.